Amid calls from most political parties in Tamil Nadu that India boycott the CHOGM meet in Sri Lanka in November, Union minister V Narayanasamy today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would take a "good decision" at the right time, respecting the sentiments of Tamils.
"The Prime Minister will take a good decision at an appropriate time and he will not hurt the sentiments of Tamil people," the minister of state in the PMO told reporters.
Asked about the issue after an appeal by his colleague and union minister G K Vasan to Singh that India stay away from the meet, he said all Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu, including himself, have apprised the Prime Minister on the importance of the issue.
"I believe even Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram had a discussion with the PM on the issue. TNCC President B S Gnanadesikan and DMK president Karunanidhi had already taken up the issue besides Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa."
Referring to Jayalalithaa writing to Singh on the need for fishermen's associations of India and Sri Lanka to hold talks, he said the Centre had already taken the initiative with the Foreign Secretary writing to the state Chief Secretary six months ago. But there was no response from the government, Narayanasamy said.
Though there was no response from the state to the second letter also, the steps taken by Jayalalithaa are welcome, he said and assured that measures would be taken to facilitate a dialogue to find an amicable solution to the issue of attacks on fishermen allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Evading a directing reply on who would be UPA's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he said the ruling alliance would fight the polls under Congress working president Rahul Gandhi and retain power.
"Rahul Gandhi is our leader and UPA will fight the polls under his leadership and retain power for the third time."
Attacking Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Narayanasamy said the BJP leader was making politically motivated statements on the economy, and added he was 'daydreaming' of becoming Prime Minister.
On the Supreme Court directive on the Aadhar card, he said government would study it before reacting to it.
On Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Narayanasamy claimed it had already started generating 400 MW which would go up to 1,000 MW in a month.
