Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is under immense pressure as some political parties within the UPA Government are opposed to his visit to Sri lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this month.
Although the Ministry of External Affairs has recommended that the Prime Minister visit the country, Mr Singh finds himself in a Catch 22 situation. Political parties from Tamil Nadu and some of his Ministers from the State have said that the Prime Minister must skip the event. Yes, he must respect the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu, but he has also to be pragmatic.
India can secure a better deal for the Tamil population in Sri lanka only through diplomatic talks with that country. The failure of the Prime Minister to visit the country on sentimental grounds would send a wrong message and Sri lanka will get undue mileage. It is to be hoped that the people of Tamil Nadu, political parties and leaders will back the Prime Minister's visit