Lok Sabha Debates
Issue Regarding Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meet To Be Held In Sri Lanka. on 5 September, 2013
> Title: Issue regarding Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet to be held in Sri Lanka.
*SHRI P. LINGAM (TENKASI): It has been announced that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet will be held in Sri Lanka in November this year. India is a member country of Commonwealth. As per the convention of Commonwealth, brotherhood and protection of human rights are to be upheld. But when we look at the events taking place in Sri Lanka we witness blatant violations of human rights in that country. Ethnic genocide has taken place. Press is denied its due freedom. There is no freedom of expression. Altogether Sri Lanka is functioning against the laid conventions of the Commonwealth. UN Human Rights Council has been conducting an enquiry on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka. It is injustice and improper to organize the Commonwealth Conference in Sri Lanka where fellow countrymen were killed through ethnic cleansing. India is a country known for upholding equality, brotherhood and world peace. Our nation has the right to protect human rights. We have our blood relations living in our neighbouring country, Sri Lanka.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Kindly sum up. You have made your point.
SHRI P. LINGAM : There is a need to protect the integrity of this nation. In the name protecting human rights and interests of Tamils, and to uphold the conventions of Commonwealth, India should not take part in the CHOGM scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Kindly sum up.
SHRI P. LINGAM : India should also insist upon other Commonwealth countries not to participate in this Conference. I urge the Government of India through this House that at any cost India should not participate in the Commonwealth Conference to be held in Sri Lanka.
* English translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID(THENI) : Sir, I would like to associate with the matter raised by Shri P. Lingam.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Okay.
Shri Kamal Kishor ‘Commando’.