FORMER INDIAN MINISTER ADMITS INDIA?S ROLE IN SRI LANKA TERRORISM WAS ?CRIMINAL

Dr. Arun Shourie MP, prominent journalist, award winning author and politician, a member of BJP at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London on Friday 23rd May in response to a question about terrorism in India, admitted that India’s role had been despicable, and “constitituted a criminal act“. He added India should do everything to stop arms smuggling.

Dr. Shourie had served as India’s Minister of Communication& Information Technology (2003-04) and also earlier had been Minister of State for Disinvestment.

The topic was “Evolving Indian Scenarios: Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy”.

After a highly informative talk in which he was critical of India’s failure to face up to the growing influence of China and the threat of Muslim fundamentalism during question time, Mr Douglas Wickramaratne, President of the Sinhala Association UK raised a question as to the role of India in the Sri Lanka situation. Mr.Wickramaratne pointed out that during early 80s India armed and trained Tamil Tigers. India paid a high price for this but Sri Lanka is still paying even a higher price.’ Surely India must assist a neighbouring friendly country to defeat terrorism because ultimately it would bring stability to the region?’

Dr Shourie replying said that ‘ what India did in the 80s was a criminal act and the consequences of that act were horrendous. DMK also influenced this decision. In the 60s and 70s we Indians admired Sri Lanka’s economic standards, its high education, health and social benefits. India may not be able to send troops but she should be at least bottling up the coast and prevent smuggling of weapons to Sri Lanka. India must support the unitary state of Sri Lanka.’ he concluded.

Although there were representatives from a number of Asian embassies, unfortunately, Sri Lankan High Commission was not represented.