DMK, CPI slam India's stand on UNHRC resolution on Lanka

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Friday criticised the central government for abstaining from voting on a U.S.-sponsored resolution for a probe into war crimes in Sri Lanka at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The resolution was adopted after 23 countries voted in its favour, while 12 voted against it. Two countries abstained from voting in the 47-member-state forum in Geneva.

DMK lawmaker, T. K. S. Elangovan, said India should have moved the resolution.

"We don't accept India's stand. India should vote in favour of the resolution. In fact, we wanted the resolution to be moved by India itself. This, we don't accept," he said in Chennai.

CPI leader D. Raja said it was a betrayal of the Tamil people's cause in Sri Lanka.

"It has betrayed the Tamil people. It has betrayed the cause of Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It is something like stabbing them behind the back when Tamil people in Sri Lanka are fighting for justice," he said in New Delhi.

Justifying the abstention, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: ""We have voted differently on this resolution. It is very different from previous resolutions and imposes an international investigation mechanism. It is an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty."

"As a close neighbor, we cannot remain untouched by developments in Sri Lanka. We are aware that while significant steps have been taken, much more needs to be done by Sri Lankan government," he said.

"But international efforts should aim to enable Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of human rights violation through a comprehensive, independent and credible national mechanism and bring to justice those found guilty. In our view, adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions is counterproductive," he added.