New Delhi: Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Gamini Peiris on Tuesday called up his Indian counterpart S M Krishna over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that India might vote in support of the US-backed resolution.
The Lankan Foreign Minister asked India to reconsider its decision to vote against Sri Lanka. The country, however, promised a fair inquiry into the allegations regarding war crimes.
Krishna said that the Indian government could not ignore Tamils sentiment voiced in Parliament.
The Prime Minister had on Monday said that the government intended to vote in favour of the US-led resolution against Sri lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but the final draft of the resolution was awaited.
"We are still waiting for the final draft of the resolution, but we intend to vote in favour of the resolution," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said in the Lok Sabha.
Speaking on the issue of alleged war crimes and Tamils in Sri Lanka, Manmohan Singh said, "India has stressed on reconciliation and healing the wounds of the Lanka Tamils. We have asked Lanka govt to stress on meaningful devolution of power."
The Prime Minister had also claimed that normalcy was returning to the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.
DMK chief Karunanidhi welcomed the Prime Minister's statement and said, "I welcome the Prime Minister's statement. We will wait to see the final decision." He also announced that the DMK will fast on March 22 for Sri Lankan Tamils.
The DMK and the AIADMK had been stepping up pressure on the Centre to vote in favour of the resolution and take a strong stand against Sri Lanka.
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