At the same time, though, New Delhi has voiced its dissent on the “tone” and “manner” of reprimand handed out to Myanmar.

India expressed these views at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday where for the first time in the recent past, India came out in open support of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release.

“India believes that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi would be helpful in terms of the process of democratization and that she can contribute to the emergence of Myanmar as a democratic country,” said India’s Permanent Representative at the Council Swashpawan Singh.

It may be noted that the closest India has come in the recent past on taking up Aung San Suu Kyi’s case was when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Myanmarese counterpart Soe Win on the margins of the East Asia Summit at Kuala Lumpur in December 2005. Singh had spoken for about 15 minutes with Soe Win underlining the importance India accords to democratic dissent.

After the meeting, Soe Win is learnt to have remarked: “Thank you Prime Minister for your advice and lecture.”

Following the recent turn of events sparked off by monks agitating on the streets for over two weeks, the UN Human Rights Council took up the matter on October 2. The European Union brought a draft resolution to condemn the excesses by Yangon. India, which is not in favour of any sanctions on Myanmar, had objections on the way the resolution was worded but did not also want to block the resolution that sought democracy in the country.

As a corrective, India gave an unusual “explanation of vote” even though the resolution was adopted by consensus. In this, New Delhi sought to balance its views making it known that it had difficulties in accepting the draft in this entirety.

“We regret that the text of the resolution adopted is not fully in conformity with this (India’s) approach. Further, its unhelpful tone does not contribute to effectively pursuing the objective of engaging constructively with the authorities in Myanmar which is essential to make a difference to the situation on the ground,” stated India’s explanation.

New Delhi’s stand has been that it is willing to work towards an outcome with “like minded” countries which is “forward looking, non-condemnatory and seeks to engage authorities in Myanmar in a constructive manner”.

The resolution “urges” Myanmar to “release without delay” all protestors. It also calls for Aung San Su Kyi’s release, which is supported by India. However, it further states that the Council “strongly deplores” the current violence including “beatings, killings, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances”. Asking Yangon to respect human rights, the resolution ask the government there to “investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of human rights violations”.

Sources said the tone of expression was not one which India would support given that New Delhi hopes that the “process of national reconciliation and political reform” initiated by Myanmar government would be “broad based, inclusive and taken forward expeditiously”.

While maintaining this position, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee “suggested” to his Myanmarese counterpart at New York on October 1 that Yangon must “consider undertaking an inquiry into recent incidents and use of force.”