Demand in Tamil Nadu for New Delhi to recall Indian Envoy Alok Prasad from Colombo
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Shree Alok Prasad is in hot water as passions in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu are boiling over the manner in which he has been conducting himself. Several Tamil Nadu politicians from different political parties are currently engaged in moves aimed at putting forward a united demand to the central government in New Delhi that the Indian envoy be immediately recalled from Colombo.
Tamil Nadu politicians from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) Congress party, Pattaligal Makkal Katchi(PMK) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (MDMK) Communist and Marxist parties etc are involved in the exercise.
Though the parties they represent have not taken up this position the politicians many of them seniors are actively involved in the moves.
Growing dissatisfaction with Alok Parsad’s conduct has reached great heights after the Paranthan and Kilinochchi towns were captured by the Sri Lankan armed forces amidst intensive aerial bombardment that has resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen innocent Tamil civilians and over 40 injuries.
There is also increased suspicion about the Indian High Commissioner’s bona fides as there are allegations that Alok Prasad on account of his “close” friendship with President Mahinda Rajapakse has been acting against the interests of India.
A petition being drafted is likely to be signed by a large number of MLA’s and MP’s from the state cutting across party lines.
The petition to be submitted to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi would demand Alok Prasad’s immediate recall.
Among the points to be highlighted in the petition is Alok Prasad’s failure in keeping New Delhi regularly and accurately informed about the trials and tribulations undergone by Tamil Civilians in the Island with particular emphasis on those living in LTTE controlled areas.
Among objections to Alok Prasad Are:
* Unwillingness to monitor the smooth transportation and distribution of food items and essential goods sent by India to civilians in the Wanni through the ICRC.There are charges of items being pilfered and looted before they went across convoys . No High commission representative was sent in with the ICRC
* Failure tu restrain the Sri Lankan armed forces from shelling and bombing Tamil civilians in the Wanni. President Rajapakse’s special representative Basil Rajapakse had given assurances in New Delhi that civilians could stay in certain areas in the Wanni safely without being harmed by bombs or shells.
* Obstructing the envisaged visit by Indian Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee to Colombo and meet with President Rajapakse to promote a cessation of hostilities. It is learnt that the long overdue trip is being stymied by Alok Prasad
* Extremely slow progress in encouraging President Rajapakse to bring about a political solution. Though New Delhi has oinned its hopes on the All party conference the Indian envoy has not provided necessary impetus.
* Inability to get Sri Lanka to sign the CEPA economic cooperation agreement with India. Alok Prasad had misinformed the Indian PrimeMinister that Rajapakse would sign the agreement and got the PM to cgo to Colombo for SAARC summit. But the Indian PM was humiliated by Rajapakse who sidelined Manmohan Singh.
According to informed journalist circles in Chennai and New Delhi several “bureaucratic Brahmins” in South Block are displeased by Alok Prasad’s poor record.
The information about Alok Prasad’s poor performance has been leaked to a top minister from Tamil Nadu in the Congress.
Complicating matters further has been suspicion that the close friendship between Rajapakse and Prasad have deeper and controversial ramifications.
With the fall of Kilinochchi angering Tamil Nadu sentiments the Indian envoy is becoming highly vulnerable as a “scapegoat” target said media circles.
Plans are afoot to publicise the petition after submitting it to New Delhi and launching public meetings in support of the petition in India.
Reinforcing opposition to Alok Prasad has been a recent article written by V. Sudarshan the “New Indian Express” executive editor.
Sudarshan had written an article based on details given by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad. After studying the situation in the north, Sudarshan had spoken to Prasad at the end of it.
There was an analysis on Prasad in the article as well. He has said that after Prasad assumed office as the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, bilateral relations between the two countries have not been on the best of terms.
According to the article, although Prasad is Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, he had played a weak role in looking into the welfare of the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka’s north.
Sudarshan had also said that Prasad had become a political prisoner of the Sri Lankan government and the people in the Wanni were suffering as a result.
Sudarshan had charged that instead of dreaming of the high post that would be offered to him at the end of his term in Sri Lanka as the Indian High Commissioner to the country, he was not doing his job in informing the Indian government of the real plight of the Tamil civilians. He had also said that there were huge disparities even in the information given by Prasad.
In his article Sudarshan had also included the heated exchange of words between Prasad and himself during the meeting.
The article has made Prasad a key target in Tamil Nadu. A massive protest was also organised based on Sudarshan’s article in Tamil Nadu. The protest called on the Indian government to recall Prasad from Sri Lanka and to send an impartial person instead.
Member of the Congress Party in Tamil Nadu, V. Thangabalu had also met with the central government and requested it to recall Prasad from Sri Lanka at the earliest.
