While claiming that only the Congress-led government can take care of Sri Lankan Tamils, Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram Saturday said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to skip the CHOGM in Colombo was correct and it was like a shock treatment.

 

Speaking at a meeting in Chennai, Chidambaram said sending External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to attend the CHOGM was also correct as dialogue should continue with the island nation, he added.

Taking a dig at the denial of US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Chidambaram said Sri Lanka too can deny visa to Indian officials and ministers.

Refuting the propaganda in the state that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) central government had not done much for the Lankan Tamils, Chidambaram said the Indian government has spent around Rs.1,200 crore for the welfare of Tamils in the island nation.

He said the Congress party wants strict implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution that promised devolution of powers to Tamils. He also said Congress wants impartial probe on the killings of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.(IANS)