There are no suitable words to condemn the manner in which India has stooped to such low depths as to attack a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk visiting a temple. It simply showcases to Sri Lanka and to Sri Lanka’s leaders that there is nothing we can expect from India other than insult over insult that has now piled up over decades and possibly centuries
While Sri Lanka’s External Affairs head may still be asleep there is still no statement coming from Sri Lanka’s authorities denouncing the rising acts of violence on Sri Lankans visiting or studying in India and the act of physically attacking a person in robes is downright shallow and not becoming of a nation supposedly aspiring to be given a seat in the UN Security Council.
India’s aspiration to be a member of the UNSC must seriously be reviewed in the rise in its human rights violations as seen by the manner it is treating its women where every second a rape is taking place and the number of little children being raped is appalling to say the least. Now even tourists face danger of visiting India as the likelihood of them being gang raped is something their embassies and travel agents should take into consideration given that practically every State is having its dosage of rapes and other attacks. The response by India is that “changes” that will protect women is still “coming” – that was what the female President of Congress recently claimed.
The attacks on Sri Lankan visiting India is nothing new. Our children visiting India to take part in sports had been attacked and even threatened to return to Sri Lanka, Asian sports events had been cancelled by a Chief Minister who has amnesia in her choice of supporting LTTE, the Sri Lankan military personnel going on training have also experienced their share of abuse as has the many pilgrims whose buses have been attacked and many of these pilgrims are senior citizens. Therefore, it is a real come down on the Indian authorities who simply think issuing a statement about how “friendly” the two nations are will suffice to satisfy what the public feel about India. India may forge ties with the Government officials in Sri Lanka but the majority populace find India one of the most uncouth neighbors we have had the destiny to find ourselves next to.
