A precursor to the TNA meeting with Narendra Modi was significan event of the Tamil National Alliance meeting with former Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh. After arriving in New Delhi on August 21, Sampanthan and his delegation called on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his private residence. Singh declared that he was deeply touched by the TNA’s gesture.
Sampanthan asked the former Premier whether he would grant a big favour to the “TNA and the Tamils of Sri Lanka.” That is by telling his successor Modi how President Rajapaksa promised the implementation of the 13th Amendment, go beyond it and the way things have moved since then. “I have already told him,” replied Singh who added “Now that you have asked, I will meet the Prime Minister again and tell him.”
The next day (August 22), the TNA team had a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Different meetings had been held earlier with her Ministry Secretary Sujatha Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. EAM Swaraj also told the TNA to talk with both leaders of parties that represented Tamil-speaking Muslims as well as the Tamil Diaspora. The remarks seemed to suggest that India sought a broader polity and hinted at the prospect of engaging them too. An insight into these talks emerged when EAM spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin fielded questions at a media briefing that followed.
Here are edited excerpts:
“Question: Today, the Tamil National Alliance from Sri Lanka met our External Affairs Minister. What was the agenda of this meeting? Can we expect any outcome?
Official Spokesperson: “A six-member delegation of the Tamil National Alliance from Sri Lanka is in Delhi. The delegation is led by Mr. Sampanthan who is a Member of Parliament there, a veteran Tamil leader…..
“This is the first delegation of the TNA to visit India after the new Government in India has taken office. Obviously this is part of our effort to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka as well as all political parties in Sri Lanka as part of the ongoing process of reconciliation. (Note: The response, as said earlier, India’s move to “engage with the GOSL as well as all political parties…)
“The TNA delegation made a presentation to the External Affairs Minister in a fairly detailed manner about what they perceive as the current situation in Sri Lanka is in terms of the political environment and their engagement or otherwise with the Sri Lankan Government.
“On our side the External Affairs Minister did patiently listen to them, and she stressed the need for a political solution that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. The delegation is meeting tomorrow with the Prime Minister and they intend to put forth a detailed projection of their understanding of the situation as well as suggestions that they may have in this context about Indian engagement on this issue.
“There was also, in addition to this, a discussion about the Indian developmental projects in the region including in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. This included the housing project as well as hospitals and various other projects including reference to the Sampur thermal power project also”.
Question: Have you taken any decision on sending the Sri Lankan refugees back to their homeland?
Official Spokesperson: “No, there is no decision. However, this was raised in the context of the discussions by the TNA delegation saying that the number of Indian refugees who would like to go back and resettle, however, they are having difficulties because of land-related issues in the Northern Province”.
Question: On Sri Lanka, when you say substantial solution, that is the Thirteenth Amendment, right? Or are you alluding to something else?
Official Spokesperson: “You are aware that the Thirteenth Amendment was stemming from the India-Sri Lanka Accord, and that is something that the Sri Lankans have themselves adopted as their legislative framework, and that is the framework in which we are working currently”.
Question: When Tamil National Alliance leader Sampanthan met Sushma Swaraj in the morning and when he came back he met the reporters and he said that Tamil monuments were destroyed by the Sri Lankan military, and that they said everything about that particularly to Sushma Swaraj in order to find a solution. So, what is Indian stand on this particular issue?
Official Spokesperson: “Let me first of all acknowledge that Mr. Sampanthan speaks with lucidity and with a felicity that I cannot even compare with. I have explained to you that he explained at great length his views about it. I also told you what the External Affairs Minister’s response was. And that is, ‘we are for a political settlement which substantially provides for a life of respect, dignity for the Tamils in Sri Lanka within the framework of a united Sri Lanka’. That is our view about it. And Mr. Sampanthan of course has his view which he very eloquently explained to the External Affairs Minister.
”
Courtesy:Sunday Times