TMC backs Centre on draft UNHRC resolution

In a surprise move, the Trinamool Congress said here on Wednesday that though it has full sympathy for the Tamil people, the party would stand only by the Centre on the question of foreign policy.

The party in a tweet on its official account stated: “The Trinamool is deeply concerned about the sentiments expressed by our Tamil brothers and sisters. We share their sentiments and are fully with them. From the beginning, on matters of external affairs, our policy has been to stand by the Central government. We have always left it to the Central government in moments of crisis. We will do the same on this occasion.” 

The statement implied that the party will stand by whatever position the government takes in regard to the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

Though the senior leadership of the party did not want to comment, sources said the statement came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath spoke to Mamata Banerjee who is in Bankura district on Wednesday morning.

“Mamata Banerjee will stand by the government on this issue like all other issues related to external affairs, because to her, country comes first. She is concerned about the Tamil population, which is at the receiving end in Sri Lanka and has expressed her solidarity. But she wants to keep the political issues separated from the national issues,” a senior Lok Sabha MP said.

Party sources also hinted that Trinamool General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy might fly to Delhi on Thursday to convey this message to all the MPs of the party.