India has dismissed as baseless and absurd the reported claim of former Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff that Indian armed forces were kept on standby alert at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who expressed a fear of an army coup in the Island nation.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who is on a visit to his home constituency, Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala, and also official sources in New Delhi categorically said that there was no request for a possible Indian help if a coup was to take place in Sri Lanka.
Official sources said that Delhi has been scrupulously keeping away from the internal political scene in Sri Lanka, “Surprise by he claims of former Chief of Defence staff” sources said and added that it is unfortunate that he has invoked India’s name where there was no need or necessity.
Some political observers in Delhi hold the view that the General was trying to make out a strong case for his candidature in the presidential race.
That was why he was trying to make references to issues which are not existence.
Media reports have quoted the Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor saying that there was "no substance to the story."
"We should be a little wary of making too much of these kinds of speculations," he told reporters.
The Ministry of External Affairs made it very clear that the Indian Army was never placed on alert. "There is no substance to the story. The government has officially informed the public that the Indian Army has not been placed on alert.
- Asian Tribune -
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