India should boycott CHOGM: Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi Friday said India should not only boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated to be held in Sri Lanka later this year but also gather the support of other countries to prevent the summit from being held in the island nation.

"India should understand the feelings of all the Tamils and chart out its strategy accordingly," Karunanidhi said in a statement issued here.

He said India should accept the requests of Tamils living the world over and announce that it would boycott the CHOGM conference to be held in Sri Lanka and also gather the support of other nations so that the conference is not held in the island nation.

He said the DMK, the Tamil Eelam Supporter's Organisation (TESO) and leaders of other political parties, including the Congress, had been demanding that CHOGM should not be held in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has been accused of committing human rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels before the rebels were defeated in May 2009.

Karunanidhi said Canada has already announced it decision to boycott CHOGM this year.

He said it was important to note that British queen would not be participating at the CHOGM summit this year and had instead deputed her son, Prince Charles.