Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation yesterday that India will not backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of “dignity and self-respect” in a peaceful environment, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said.

The PTI quoted Dr. Singh as saying that India would continue to engage with the TNA in its efforts to find a political solution to the decades-long Tamil question.

“The Prime Minister said India will never backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self-respect in a peaceful environment. He told us that India is fully with the concerns faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils and will continue to engage with the TNA,” Mr. Sampanthan said.
During separate meetings with Dr. Singh and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Mr. Sampanthan said the TNA would consider joining the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on finding a political solution provided the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government gave a firm assurance that the Tamils would not be ‘cheated again’.

Describing the meeting with Dr. Singh and Mr. Krishna as “extremely good”, Mr. Sampanthan said the TNA had told the Indian Prime Minister that the party was committed to achieving a political solution but would want an assurance from the Sri Lankan Government that the “negativity” would be removed.

Sources said during the meetings, the Indian side also explained its position and how it was working with the Sri Lankan Government in implementing the 13th Amendment plus approach which envisaged devolution of power to Tamil-dominated provinces.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)