The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has dropped hints to some opposition leaders that a closed-door meeting on the India-China border situation can be considered, after expressing reluctance to participate in a public discussion. full-fledged on the sensitive issue in the monsoon session of Parliament.
A final decision on such a meeting, where opposition parties would be briefed on the military standoff along the Line of Royal Control (LAC), has yet to be made, officials involved in the talks said. Clearly, the government has not contacted all opposition parties so far.
Under the proposal, which follows accusations by the opposition that the government was avoiding a discussion on the issue in parliament, senior officials in the Defense Ministry can brief the leaders of the different parties behind closed doors on efforts to normalize the situation and answer any queries they may have. may have on the subject.
“A high-ranking minister had called me to tell me that the government is planning a briefing for the floor leaders of different parties on the situation in Indochina if they agree. The proposal is in an incipient stage and needs further discussion, ”said a senior leader who does not belong to the NDA, requesting anonymity.
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Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, questioned the usefulness of such a meeting. He said: “If newspapers can debate, the public can debate and everyone else can debate, then why can’t the Indian Parliament debate such a situation?”
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh read a statement in Lok Sabha on Tuesday on the Indochina border situation, but opposition leaders were not allowed to request clarification. Angry congressional leaders, including Chowdhury and Shashi Tharoor, staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex.
Government managers argued that at this stage, when India and China are trying to resolve the situation, it is best to avoid an open debate marked by conflicting opinions and criticism.
Chowdhury reminded the government that in 1962, when then-opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee demanded a debate on the Indochina war, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to hold a debate that lasted for two days. Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi was quick to point out that the 1962 debate took place after the war ended and not when the two sides were trying to find a solution.
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Other leaders, including Pinaki Mishra of Biju Janata Dal and Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, did not support Chowdhury. Banerjee assumed that the party wanted to hear what the minister had to say before making a decision. Mishra agreed with the government’s view that divisive debate should be avoided.
Minutes before Parliament’s session began on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the situation, adding that he hopes the House will send a unanimous message of solidarity with the armed forces.
“Today the brave soldiers of our army are on the borders. They are defending the borders with great courage and good humor, on difficult terrain, ”he said.
“The whole House is with the brave soldiers of the country with one voice; I believe that this House and all the Members. also, it will give a very strong message, ”Modi said.
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