Indian Defence Minister's
Repudiation Of A Joint Regional Defence Treaty, Irresponsible And Misconstrued!
P.Sunil
In a somewhat incomprehensible statement released by Indian
defence Minister Pranab Mukerjee as latest reports indicate, India says
it has no plans to sign a Defence Agreement with Sri Lanka thought by
many world powers on a consensus as conducive towards Regional Sercurity.
Is this then the Indian Government's latest response deemable as negative
on the proposed Regional Defence Agreement which may be imperative towards
securing South Asia from Terrorists such as the LTTE and one which is
orchestrated so that the constituents of Tamil Nadu could be appeased
proir to the next election ? Has the concept of supporting the war against
global terrorism thereby been shoved on to the back burner where India
has resorted to a double standard which assents Tamils Nadus's Pro LTTE
leanings on the pretext that they are indicating sympathies with the
Sri Lankan Tamil minority while negating a likely Defence Treaty which
would in all probabilities serve the Region very well and synonymously
deter the LTTE?
It seems as though India has followed the age old tradition of political
gain before principle and justice as the State of Tamil Nadu comprising
predominantly of Dravidians or Tamils of South Indian origin seems to
be the greater priority than Regional Defence particularly in Indian
Ocean territory shared by both India and Sri Lanka and threatened by
the terrorist activities of the LTTE which could have dire ramifications
if not addressed post haste!
It seems also irresponsible on the part of Indian Defence Minister Pranab
Mukherjee speaking to the media in Chennai on Thursday after a meeting
with Dravida Munnetra Kalagam (DMK) leader M. Karunanidhi, to say that
New Delhi would not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries
including Sri Lanka as an obvious circumvention of the real issue relating
to Regional Defence and an apparent bypassing of responsibilities which
would rationally entail being a deterrent to the LTTE terrorists whose
mendaciousness and evil intents should be a matter of concern rather
than one to be bypassed with biased rhetoric which could easily be construed
as terrorist supportive. It also seems amusing that this could be a
response by India where the term interference seems to have been confused
with invitation!! One which has come from the very top of the Sri Lankan
hierarchy!
In saying that "It is the stated policy of the central Government
not to interfere in the affairs of other countries and the government
still stands by it" implies exactly this (confused misinterpretation)
when there is in fact a joint Naval Surveillance Agreeement between
India and Sri Lanka which cannot be detracted from the overall responsibilities
involved in being shrugged off by the Indian Defence Minister! It further
seems to constitute a statement which could generate embarrassment to
the Indian Government by way of bifurcation of the importance needed
towards quelling LTTE attrocities in the region which has escalated
alarmingly and India's role perhaps even obligatory towards Sri Lanka's
need as a priority rather than appeasing the voters of Tamil Nadu some
of whom even are said to harbour terrorists!
There is a degree of dismay and incredulity that these same Tamil Nadu
constituents were in umbrage and totally incensed with the LTTE after
the Rajiv Gandhi assassination where condemnations against the LTTE
and outpourings of anger spilled out across India as the culprits responsible
for the heinous murder of a much loved Indian leader were revealed as
the LTTE but today these same individuals seem to be providing platforms
for the ruthless murderers of the LTTE and suggests all but apathy and
a memory lapse. The freedom loving middle of the road Tamils in Sri
Lanka appear to have been used as pawns towards supporting the theory
of the Indian Defence Minister who could easily end up being accused
of playing a pro LTTE role towards appeasing the voters of Tamil Nadu
while promoting the neglect of Regional Needs!
While conceding that the MDMK and the PMK may well be government constituents,
their being strongly opposed to any defence agreement with Sri Lanka
seems to point in a direction beyond the norm of concern for the well
being of Sri Lankan Tamils. The crux of the matter and the stark reality
is that there are blatant transparencies about the real intent which
is LTTE sympathy towards their cause and a fact attested to by a certain
individual by name of Vaiko who was incarcerated in 2003 by the Indian
Authorities who stated unequivocally that " even before the MDMK
voices its views, many come to the conclusion that the organisation
would speak only in support of the LTTE. .
It is indeed preposterous for theThe MDMK and PMK to have cautioned
the Indian Government in saying that "a Defence Pact with Sri Lanka
may be used by Colombo "to unleash violence against Tamils".
This is a sad accusation against a Government which has granted much
protection and considerations to the Sri Lankan Tamil Minority far removed
from the LTTE whose idealogues too have enjoyed many privileges extended
to them by a Government in all cordiality and without reservation. These
are the very same terrorists who are now conducting an all out campaign
of clandestine violence against the Sri lankan Defence Establishment
and for the Indian Government's present dialogue expressed through their
Defence Minister indicates a virtual turning of a blind eye to their
activities.
It is a load of rubbish hardly representing any credibility that the
verbiage of a resolution adopted at a meeting late last month, organised
jointly by the PMK, MDMK and the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) suggests that
"any military help to Sri Lanka would harm the Tamils living in
the Island Republic, besides hurting the interests of the Tamils living
all over the world" which should be re-phrased to read" Any
logistical and tactical Indian support given to the Sovereign Nation
of Sri Lanka towards its defences from terrorists would be a response
in recognition that Sri Lanka is a close ally and supportive of the
Nation of India while it is also an assertion tha India is conscious
of the imperative role it needs to take towards the Regional Security
of South Asia! As far as hurting the interests of Tamils living all
over the world let the more discerning draw their own conclusions relative
to the realities at large! Let their conclusions also rest on the latest
move by the Sri Lankan Government to ferry in over 60,000 Tamil refugees
once displaced in Tamil Nadu if any yardstick is needed towards the
Intentions of the Sri Lankan Government towards its Tamil Minority!
To even suggest that "India would fall prey to the machinations
of President Mahinda Rajapakse, allegedly attempting to project an image
that New Delhi backed all his anti-Tamil acts" according to this
resolution seems to be pure speculative innuendo on the part of the
PMK and the MDMK whose depositions seem to flow lucidly from the sublime
to the ridiculous merely to appease the gullibilities of the masses
in Tamil Nadu and a fomenting of unnecesary and unfounded concerns,
where the greater implication should dwell on the need to contain the
brand of terrorism currently being generated by the LTTE whose mendacities
and vicious crimes against humanity also constitute a threat to Sri
lanka's minority Tamils!
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