Chidambaram attacks Centre for abstaining from voting on UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka

He also termed the development as "gross betrayal of the Tamil people"

Congress on Wednesday slammed the Modi government for abstaining in the vote on a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka, terming it as a “gross betrayal” of the Tamil people.

“The people of Tamil Nadu must and will punish the AIADMK-BJP alliance for this grievous blow to the interests of the Tamils,” senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said.

The UNHRC On Tuesday, adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka's rights record, which gives the multilateral agency a mandate to collect evidence of crimes committed during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“India abstained from voting on the Resolution on Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council. This is a gross betrayal of the Tamil people and their unanimous sentiment and desire,” Chidambaram said on Twitter.

India had abstained from voting, saying its approach to the question of human rights in Sri Lanka is guided by two fundamental considerations.

One is support to Lankan Tamils for equality, justice, dignity and peace and the other is ensuring the unity, stability and territorial integrity of that nation.

It also urged Colombo to fulfil its commitments on the devolution of political authority, to carry forward the process of reconciliation and address the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation.