When it comes to external affairs - very few nations fail to display the unanimous solidarity. There are exceptions as well. All such exceptions though are ominous signals. Currently Syria, earlier Iraq or Egypt experienced these symptoms prior to collapse then regimes. It may be harsh to compare India with these less democratic countries. However, the recent episodes and emanating symptoms invariably lead to this question. Let's take the simple issue of Italian marines who have been arrested following fishermen incident off the Kerala coast. Already the issue has been shifted from the culprits to Italian Ambassador. Today, India landed itself into a very vulnerable diplomatic situation putting it's international credibility at risk. The fundamental problem for a distant observer is - who in charge of the affairs? Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister, Home Minister, Supreme Court Of India or Sonia Gandhi. Beneath this affair, the conspiracy theories surrounding the Augusta Helicopter scheme is gaining strong ground. Perhaps, cut off the relations or damage them for a a while, and kill or bury the scam. If it is true, then the political gains are fraction of the wider damage
Now coming to Sri Lanka Tamils issue. For any close observer from Indian side, it is impossible to gauge India's true and consistent position. In early 1980's LTTE were India's revered guests. At one time they had direct access to the power corridors of New Delhi and Madras (Chennai). Things took a dramatic turn, after Rajiv Gandhi's intervention with IPKF. While the persistent sympathizers of LTTE and Srilankan Tamils existed in Tamil Nadu hinterlands - Rajiv Gandhi's assassination changed the equations. While DMK and AIDMK played ping pong with this issue mostly while in the opposition benches, of late for either of them Sri Lanka Tamils have become symbolic identity on the lines of BJPs Hindutva slogan.
During the course of past 2 decades, the Sri Lankan Government globalized their diplomatic relationships beyond being India's little sister. The strategic location and natural resources and many other factors including India itself attracted India arch rivals like China and Pakistan to their closer proximity. Following departure of Vajpayee, India's diplomatic policies as well got into the hands of the powerful regional allies. Bangladesh policy by Mamata Benerjee is a good example. This is the dangerous trend. Pakistan policy is implicitly dictated by pro-muslim secular parties who have no understanding of wider reputations beyond vested interests in their local Muslim vote bank.
Surprisingly though, when it comes to Sri Lanka Tamils, even the hardcore Tamil parties lacked basic strategy. Only after Channel 4 revelation of Prabhakaran's son Balachandran's killing collective public emotions got charged in Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi and DMK have their own compulsions. With the reports coming out recently indicating, Raja (the 2G fame) acted with the full confidence of Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram, naturally DMK wants to settle the scores. Also, the Tamil parties have the pulse of nations mood. The know how to align quickly with the ruling party at New Delhi. Elections are not far - and it is the time to turn the tables! For them Hindutva, Muslims, Hindi or anything else is only after their Tamil interest.
Unfortunately, Karunanidhi picked up perhaps a right issue in a wrong context. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi thought, it is better let DMK go out of their coalition than risking Sri Lanka Government. Then, foolishly they have put the resolution for discussion in Parliament. There are no takers other than the two Tamil Parties. India proved it's timidity on one of the important international issue. All the political class has been exposed in black and white.
Now the consequences for those innocent Sri Lankan Tamils are far reaching. Sri Lanka Government is now assured of India's non-interference. After all the pogroms and alleged ethnic cleansing - the Sri Lanka Government knows - they still have got plenty of time to complete the unsettled business. Karunanidhi purely for his myopic political gains picked up a wrong issue at an inappropriate time.
For India, the symptoms are getting bigger and consistent. The recent episode adds to the long list of internal diplomatic blunders of this UPA government. What India lacks today is leadership - a Indira Gandhi or Lalbahadur Shastri or Vajpayee would not have let these blunders happened.
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