India’s Union Shipping Minister GK Vasan said that he was “agonised and shocked” by India’s abstention at the UN Human Rights Council, on the resolution on Sri Lanka, reported The Hindu.
“India’s abstention has caused agony and shock for a majority of Congress leaders and workers in the State. There could be no two opinions on the serious human rights violations that took place in Sri Lanka [in the last leg of the military conflict during 2009],” the Minister said.
Vasan said that he had conveyed the feelings of Congress leaders and people in Tamil Nadu to the Prime Minister’s Office and the External Affairs Ministry.
Last week, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, also from the Congress Party, said that India should have supported the resolution.
"Congress took a neutral stand at UNHRC by abstaining from voting on the Sri Lanka resolution. There is no unanimity among parties in Tamil Nadu over this issue. Personally I feel India should have supported the resolution. It is my personal opinion. Twenty three countries had supported it and we also should have supported even if it was a watered down one," he said.
However his party downplayed his comments.
"He is certainly entitled to that view and we understand that he is from Tamil Nadu. Equally, Congress, on a national perspective is entitled to agree to disagree with it", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.
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