In a move that will not go down well with Sri Lanka, India voted in favour of an American-sponsored resolution censuring it at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday. It was, however, unable to introduce any amendments to the US resolution at the eleventh hour.
India was expectedly among the 25 nations that backed the US resolution in the 47-member UNHRC. Another 13 voted against the resolution, including Pakistan and the Gulf states. Eight countries, including Kenya, Japan and Kazakhstan, abstained; while the West African nation of Gabon couldn’t vote due to a dispute over its voting rights.
China, with which Sri Lanka has close ties, could not support Colombo as it is now not a member of UNHRC. It voted against a similar resolution last year.
The Colombo government rejected the resolution, saying it was “replete with misrepresentations” on the situation there, with foreign minister G.L. Peiris condemned the move.
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Actor has a very narrow window
Age Correspondent
Mumbai, March 21
After Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment which, in effect, means actor Sanjay Dutt will have to spend another three and a half years in jail, Dutt only has a narrow window, said noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon, who represented several of the accused in the case.
“He can only approach a larger bench or file a review petition, but, in that case also, I am afraid that unless a stay is granted on Thursday’s order, he will have go to prison,” Mr Memon said.
Dutt’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, was not very optimistic either. He said, “I am not sure what relief he can claim. But he will abide by the apex court’s order in letter and spirit. Three and a half years is not a long period. We have prepared him from the very beginning.”