Still time to decide on PM’s visit to Lanka: Chidambaram

Finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday hinted his opposition on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) later in November. He said that ‘some union ministers are opposed to Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka to participate but there is still time to take a decision.’

‘It’s the decision that the government will take. There is still time to take that decision,’ he told reporters when asked whether Singh would travel to Colombo, adding that, 'I think MEA spokesperson has already said that the process of decision-making is on and the decision will be taken.'

To another question, he said, 'I am aware that some ministers were opposed to Prime Minister's participating in CHOGM. We are aware of that.'

He did not identify the ministers but his comments came against the backdrop of Congress leader and Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan urging the Prime Minister on Thursday that India should boycott the CHOGM keeping in mind the sentiments of Tamil Nadu parties.

Vasan said he met the Prime Minister to apprise him of the view of the people in Tamil Nadu and the unanimous resolution adopted by the state assembly demanding that India 'completely' boycott CHOGM in Sri Lanka.

'The Prime Minister informed that he would act keeping the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu in mind over Sri Lanka. He had assured to take a good decision,' he stated.