India must not back Lanka at UNHRC: Karuna

Chennai: DMK, a key constituent of the ruling UPA at the Centre, today said India should not support Sri Lanka, which is facing war crime charges, in the hearings being conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"India should not back Sri Lanka at any cost when the UNHRC resolution comes up for voting," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in a statement recalling the party`s resolution adopted at its high-level committee meeting in April, stressing that Sri Lanka should be tried for alleged war crimes.

Citing the resolution passed in the meeting last year, Karunanidhi said perpetrators of the alleged crimes must face action and the Indian government should also make efforts in this regard. Karunanidhi said Sri Lankan Minister Mahinda Samarasingha had claimed to have suggested that India would support Sri Lanka in the voting.

MDMK leader Vaiko on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voicing concern over India`s reported move at the UNHRC. PMK leader S Ramadoss also expressed concern over the issue.