As the controversy around the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting grows, reports have emerged that the Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh may boycott the summit.

"The Prime Minister and other senior leaders in the party have been discussing the issue for the last month. We got indications that the PM is not likely to attend the meeting," a Union minister from Tamil Nadu told the Times of India.

A spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry refused to confirm Singh’s attendance, only saying that an Indian delegation would attend the summit.

“It is an ongoing process and I cannot speculate if it will be Prime Minister Singh or someone else,” Syed Akbaruddin said according to The Times.

TKS Elangovan, a spokesman for the DMK, said:

“We are pinning our hopes on India choosing not to participate. We will agitate in a big way if India participates. So what if India is part of the Commonwealth? Canada has boycotted it and so should we.”

Adhi Sankar, another DMK MP warned the party’s future relationship with Congress will be at risk if he ignores its concerns, reported The Telegraph.

“It will be a setback to the Tamils in Sri Lanka, if the Prime Minister decides to participate. We are not against India's participation in the event but the head of the state should not go. This will be crucial for the future relationship domestically,” he said.

Former diplomat G Parthasarathy was critical of the calls for a boycott.

"While Mr Karunanidhi is right in raising the plight of the Lankan Tamils, it is the central government that will decide the policy towards Colombo. Let us not forget the fact it is India that ensured 13th Amendment for devolution of powers for Lankan Tamils.

"Also how can an Indian leader skip the summit when top leaders of Canada, UK and Australia and other nations are participating," he told The Economic Times.