DMK president M Karunanidhi has said that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was following "double standards" in announcing a judicial inquiry into the allegations of war crimes.

Rajapaksa, who faces elections on January 8 next year, had said that rights violations and allegations of war cirmes will be probed through domestic judicial processes.

According to media reports, the Sri Lankan President made the announcement a few days ago while releasing his party's election manifesto. Sri Lanka did not cooperate with a UN probe into allegations of rights abuse and war crimes, citing it was partial.

Criticising Rajapaksa for not consenting to an international probe into war crime allegations, Karunanidhi has told Indian media that "Now when polls are round the corner, he says he is ready for a judicial probe."

"This is nothing but following double standards," the nonagenarian leader added in a statement in Chennai.

Referring to Rajapaksa's appeal to Tamils to forget the past, the DMK chief said, "He, however, did not come forward to forge an electoral alliance with Tamil parties."

The "same Rajapaksa" had also promised earlier that recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and 13th Constitutional Amendment will be implemented and Tamils bestowed with rights, Karunanidhi has argued.
(With inputs from Outlook)