'India should back Lanka Tamil cause'

Vijayawada: The Solidarity for Tamil Eelam national convener and former national president of Samata Party, V V Krishna Rao, here on Wednesday, asserted that the Indian government should raise its voice in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils and ensure that the innocent Tamil nationals are protected. Speaking to The Hans India, Krishna Rao, who has been fighting for the protection of human rights of Sri Lankan Tamilians, said that the government did not act to protect the rights of the Tamilians in Sri Lanka despite the Sri Lankan government violating the human rights. He said that lakhs of Tamilians were killed in northern Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2009. He wanted the Indian government to act against the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan army against the Tamilians. Krishna Rao wanted the government to move a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) instead of backing the US sponsored resolution. He took exception to the US resolution against Sri Lankan government stating that the resolution would not help in getting justice done to the Tamilians. He favoured an independent international investigation into the atrocities committed by Sri Lanka and the violation of human rights for the Tamilians. He wondered how India could support the US-sponsored resolution as the US itself is facing allegation of violating human rights in several countries. He recalled that India had taken initiative in the Pakistan-Bangladesh trouble and was responsible for formation of Bangladesh. Similarly, in the Tibet case too, India had allowed Tibetans to have their government in exile at Dharmasala, he said and wondered why the nation was now silent to the problems of the Tamilians in Sri Lanka. He took a dig at the Dravidian parties from Tamil Nadu who have been using the Tamil Eelam movement for their political gains. He said the democratic forces across the world have been extending support to the Tamilians against whom atrocities were committed and it was time for India to act. He wanted India to keep political issues aside and work for the human rights of the Tamilians in Sri Lanka. He asked the Indian government to rise to the occasion and condemn the atrocities committed by Sri Lanka against the Tamilians and ensure safety and security of the Tamilians.