Chidambaram differs with government stance on vote on Sri Lanka

Finance Minister P.Chidambaram Monday differed with the Indian government's stand to abstain from voting on a UN human rights council resolution calling for probe into the alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka, saying it should have voted with 23 other countries in its favour.

Answering queries from media persons here, he said he does not share the stand of the external affairs ministry to abstain from voting.

"We should have voted for resolution like 23 (countries)," Chidambaram said, adding it was "a position taken by MEA" and "not a decision taken by cabinet or a cabinet committee".

India had last week joined 11 other countries that abstained from voting on a UN Human Rights Council resolution in Geneva calling for a probe into alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka. However, the resolution was adopted with 23 voting in favour and 12 against.The 47-member UNHRC accepted the resolution presented by the US on behalf of countries, including Britain.

This was for the first time since 2009 that India abstained from voting on the resolution - "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka". India had in 2009, 2012 and 2013 voted in favour of the resolutions.