Singh expresses concern for Sri Lankan Tamils

March 09, 2013
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NEW DELHI, India – In a speech to Parliament Friday (March 8th), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India is "worried" about the fate of Tamils in Sri Lanka, local media reported.

His comments follow widespread allegations of rights abuses in Sri Lanka during the war against the Tamil Tigers that ended in 2009 and in the years since.

"There are problems in Sri Lanka; we have been worried about the fate of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka," Singh told the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) in comments quoted by the IANS news agency.

"We are making all efforts with the Sri Lankan government for reconciliation and an honourable settlement for Tamil people," Singh said, according to India Blooms News Service.

Lawmakers from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) walked out of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) during a speech Thursday by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to protest the government's stance on allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.

IANS reported that Singh's government is under pressure from political rivals and at least one ally to vote against Sri Lanka when a resolution is introduced at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva later this month.

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