TN Assembly Special Session Tuesday Nov 12,2013

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Nov 12,2013 Tuesday evening adopted a resolution reiterating that India should not take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) beginning in Colombo on Friday Nov 15,2013

The House, in the resolution moved by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, expressed its deep regret over the decision of the Central government to send the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to the CHOGM. It described the move as an act that neither consoled Tamils nor respected their sentiments, thus causing deep anguish.

India’s participation would amount to “accepting and endorsing inhumane acts and offences” of the Sri Lankan government [against Sri Lankan Tamils]. Besides, India would have to bear an “undying blemish” for having supported the Sri Lankan President to become Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth for two years. Tamils [here] could not accept or bear the thought of India being subjected to such ignominy

The House renewed its call to the Union government to boycott the CHOGM completely and not to send any representative even nominally to the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Wednesday and to the CHOGM to be held from November 15 to 17, as a mark of respecting the unanimous view and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. 

Political Parties That Supported The Resolution are -

• AIADMK
• DMK
• DMDK
• CPI
• Manithaneya Makkal Katch
• All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi 

When the resolution was taken up for voice vote, the CPI(M) and the Congress were absent.  

Puthiya Tamizhagam leader K. Krishnasamy who tried to stage a sit-in protest in the House was evicted before voting. 

PMK which has 3 members in the assembly decided to boucott the session and did not attend

Immediately after the Assembly adjourned sine die, the Chief Minister sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, enclosing the text of the resolution. In the letter, she said the decision was a “snub to the people of Tamil Nadu, giving short shrift to their sentiments.” She recalled her letters to him in March and October, demanding a “total boycott” of the summit

Note

When the Assembly met last month for a week, it unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on October 24, calling for a “total boycott” of CHOGM. 

To highlight the demand for complete boycott, a number of organisations called a rail blockade and ‘hartal’ for Tuesday. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi have announced their support to the protest. 

On Monday, Communist Party of India workers staged demonstration to press the demand.