India does not want refugees from Sri Lanka, says Pranab

New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) India Thursday said it does not
want influx of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka into its
territory, saying it is the responsibility of the island
nation to provide food and shelter to civilians displaced
because of hostilities there.

"We will not like influx of refugees to Tamil Nadu
because of a situation over which we have no control. We are
prevailing upon them (Sri Lanka), it is your responsibility to
provide food, shelter and medicine to your displaced people,"
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Rajya
Sabha.

He was replying to clarifications sought on his suo motu
statement made in the House Wednesday on the situation in Sri
Lanka.

When senior Indian officials visited Sri Lanka recently,
they told their counterparts that New Delhi would like to have
an overall assessment before meeting their requirements. This
was because "we would not like international players in our
backyard", Mukherjee said.

He was specifically responding to the concerns of Leader
of the Opposition Jaswant Singh over China, Sri Lanka and
Pakistan forging strategic relations in the region.

Mukherjee said Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was
sending his Senior Political Adviser Basil Rajapaksa to India
"by the weekend" and there will be some discussion.

"We will provide whatever assistance they require for
rehabilitation, relief and succour to the displaced persons,"
he said.

He maintained that the ultimate solution could be
achieved through implementation of the recommendations of the
high-powered committee, devolution of power and giving
autonomy in certain areas.

On the killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan
Navy, over which several members from Tamil Nadu expressed
serious concern, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has
already taken up the issue with the Sri Lankan leaders.

"There is no justification for Sri Lanka Navy shooting
Indian fishermen. You can arrest them as it often happens in
Pakistan. But there is no reason why the Sri Lankan Navy will
fire upon our fishermen," Mukherjee said.

He said they have agreed to work out a mechanism for a
practical solution to resolve the issue and added that some
arrangements were being worked out to ensure that the
fishermen are adequately warned.