The Government of India has no intention of intervening in the decision-making process of the Government of Sri Lanka on holding provincial council (PC) elections despite an official request being made by India’s DMK party from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Sunday Morning contacted the High Commission of India in Colombo to inquire whether the Government of India had suggested any interventions or discussions on the matter.
“This is a matter that concerns the local government councils of Sri Lanka and India does not have an intention to interfere with such a matter. It is up to the Sri Lankan Government to act accordingly and decide whether they should or should not hold elections,” a reliable source at the High Commission told The Sunday Morning.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)/Dravidian Progressive Federation, a political party from Tamil Nadu, urged Indian Prime Minister Modi to intervene in Sri Lanka’s decision to abolish the PC in the new constitution that would be put forth this year.
DMK Party Treasurer and MP T.R. Baalu last week had requested the Indian Prime Minister to give a stern warning to Sri Lanka, as the disrespect that is displayed could have bad consequences on India-Sri Lanka relations.
Baalu, in his statement, has viewed the move to abolish the PC system, as clear disrespect towards the India-Sri Lanka Accord, and one which would make the Tamils second-class citizens in the country.
Following are excerpts of his statement:
′′This is an arrogant and unjust action that will remove the amendment of the law. It is shocking that even in this difficult time when the agreement with India is not respected and questioned, when our Foreign Minister or the National Security Advisor who recently visited Sri Lanka didn’t question on such matters and as to why our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not raised concerns with the President or Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
“The Central Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps every day since the ‘Rajapaksa brothers’ came to power, in a way to completely snatch the rights of Tamils of Eelam – and in a way to disrupt their self-esteem and dignity. It is very sad that the Bharatiya Janata Party Government is keeping peace without disputing the decision.”
Meanwhile, the Government of Sri Lanka’s ruling party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and their parties in alliance still had not reached a decision on whether to hold the PC polls or not this year, saying that since a new constitution is to be introduced and in that, the PC system is to be abolished, the need to hold an election and appoint officials would be redundant.
People’s representatives from the ruling party too were seen to be making contradictory statements about holding PC polls, with the Opposition political parties suggesting that the same officials of the local government council should be reinstated until the new constitution is established.
(The Morning)