Welcoming the resolution moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa urging the Centre to take the lead for an international probe into war crimes in Sri Lanka, political parties in the State raised apprehensions that the United States could be acting on geo-political interests in the South Asian region.

DMK leader M. Karunaniadhi also urged the Centre to move a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for an international probe.

He recalled his remarks condemning the U.S. government’s decision to support a local inquiry into the war crimes. “America’s stand on the issue will cover up the genocide,” he claimed.

During the debate on the resolution in the Assembly on Wednesday, DMK deputy leader Durai Murugan termed it as a “timely resolution.” Recalling the efforts taken by his party for an international probe, he said the Union government should be steadfast in its demand for international probe.

“Tamil Nadu’s stand should be India’s stand,” he said.

Communist Party of India (M) floor leader A. Soundararajan said the Centre should demand an independent inquiry by a panel of international jurists to close the escape routes for the perpetrators of war crimes.

K. Pandiarajan, an MLA from the splinter group of the DMDK, said the resolution strengthened the voice of Tamils in northern Sri Lanka and pointed out that India has a greater leverage with the United States than Sri Lanka. Both concurred in their view that the U.S. could be acting on geo-political interests.

M.H. Jawahirullah of MMK said the U.S. government was against the Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka as it had close ties with China.

Now that the U.S. has a friendly government with the rulers in Sri Lanka favourable, it might scuttle an international inquiry. “Internal inquiry is unacceptable,” he said.

PMK MLA Ganesh Kumar, Puthiya Tamizhagam leader K. Krishnasamy, CPI floor leader M. Arumugam and Congress MLA J.G. Prince spoke in favour of the resolution.

(With inputs from The Hindu)