PM has given respect to our voice: Karunanidhi

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision not to take part in the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka in view of opposition by political parties in Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi, who has been against India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held in Colombo next week, citing the contentious Sri Lankan Tamils issue, dubbed as 'debatable' External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid leading the Indian delegation.

“It is some consolation to us that at least the prime minister has given respect to our voice and is not attending the Summit," he told reporters.

Karunanidhi, whose party pulled out of the United Progressive Alliance in March over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, said the decision to send Khurshid, "is debatable."

Political parties in Tamil Nadu and several other outfits have opposed India's participation at any level in the CHOGM, alleging the Sri Lankan government had committed gross violation of human rights and had no plans to devolve powers to ethnic Tamils.

The state assembly had also passed a unanimous resolution opposing India's participation in CHOGM.