Show sensitivity towards Sri Lankan crisis: Cong.(I)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 30. The Government should respect its obligations and demonstrate sensitivity towards the Sri Lankan crisis, the Congress(I) said today, regretting that an impression was being created that India must have a hands-off policy towards the conflict.

It stressed that a political resolution within the parameters of Sri Lanka's territorial integrity was necessary.

The Congress(I) defended the decision of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, to send the IPKF (Indian Peace- Keeping Force) to Sri Lanka. The additional AICC(I) spokesman, Mr. Anand Sharma, criticised the ``mischievous propaganda'' that the IPKF mission was a grave blunder on Rajiv Gandhi's part and added it was high-time that the record was set straight.

He said the IPKF was sent on Sri Lanka's invitation and the LTTE had also concurred on this. This followed the Indo- Sri Lanka accord, signed by Rajiv Gandhi and the former Sri Lankan President, J.R. Jayawardene. Among other things, the accord had envisioned devolution of power to the Tamil minority there. Later Mr. Jayawardene's successor, Mr. Premadasa, had ``teamed up'' with the LTTE, Mr. Sharma said. The Congress(I) was concerned about developments in Sri Lanka, he said.

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