Jaya asks PM to boycott Sri Lanka meet

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today sought to mount pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to boycott his visit to Sri Lanka next month over alleged human rights violations and discrimination against Tamils in that country.

"I strongly exhort you to ensure that the government of India stays away from the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo. This will exert diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka to adopt a more reasonable approach towards its Tamil minority population" she said in her letter to Dr Singh.

Quoting recent media reports in which the PM conveyed that he would keep in mind the sentiments of Tamil people in deciding on his participation in the meet, Ms Jayalalathaa said the view of Tamil Nadu was that India should not participate at any level whether titular, ministerial or official.

"Only such an action will convey India's unequivocal stand that it will not tolerate the violation of human rights of the Sri Lankan Tamil minority. I hope you will respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and unanimous view across party lines and convey India's decision to stay away from the forthcoming meeting in Colombo in November", she said.

Recently, the PM had reportedly communicated to DMK Chief M Karunanidhi through his party leader TR Baalu that he would take a decision on participating in the meet keeping in the mind the sentiments of Tamil people.