Opposition wants full-fledged debate on West Asia issue: Congress | India News
New Delhi: With the Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar Prepared to make a statement in Parliament on the situation in West Asia, Congress Sunday said the opposition wants a full-fledged debate on the issue in the second phase of the budget session starting Monday.On Monday, before the session begins, a joint opposition meeting will also be held in RS Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharg’s chamber to formulate a common strategy on the opposition-sponsored resolution for the LS Speaker. Om BirlaIts removal, Congress leader Syed Nasir Hussain said on Sunday. His comments came after a meeting of an important parliamentary strategy group at Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s residence.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X on Sunday night, “It has been informed that the External Affairs Minister will make a statement to both Houses of Parliament on the situation in West Asia”.“The problems with such ministerial statements are that (i) they add little value to what is already known; and more importantly (ii) MPs are not given an opportunity to seek clarification or ask questions,” Ramesh said.“What the opposition wants is a full debate,” he added. “On April 8, 2003, there was a heated debate in the Lok Sabha on the US invasion of Iraq and even a resolution was passed condemning it. This was when Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who knew his Rajdharma, was the Prime Minister,” said Ramesh.Meanwhile, the Congress leadership on Sunday held a meeting of an important parliamentary strategy group at the residence of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Speaking to the media after the meeting, regarding the no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker, Congress leader Syed Nasir Hussain said that all opposition parties will participate in the discussion and vote for the motion to remove Om Birla.Hussain said they discussed various national and international developments including the West Asia crisis and its implications.“We have decided that in the second part of the budget session of Parliament, we want to discuss the impact of the West Asia crisis and how it will affect India’s foreign policy and what will be our political position.” “Several critical issues were examined, including the impact of the proposed India-US trade agreement and its potential impact on Indian farmers and our agricultural economy,” he added. “We believe that these issues need a comprehensive discussion in Parliament,” Hussain said. He also said concerns were also raised over the government’s stance on Ladakh, particularly the gap between earlier assurances and the current stance, as well as the continuing question of the status of Jammu and Kashmir. “These issues are of national importance and should be discussed transparently,” he added.
