The Government resolution over Iraq was stalled today over choice of words, with the Opposition stressing for a ‘condemnation’ of the war and the BJP-led NDA seeking to ‘deplore’ it.However, there was a consensus between both sides on words like ‘anguish’ of the nation and safeguarding the ‘sovereignty’ of Iraq. There was also a broad agreement on the demand for immediate cessation of hostilities in Iraq by the US-led coalition and on providing aid of Rs 100 crore for humanitarian measures and reconstruction of the country.This was decided at an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker at 5 pm to discuss the text of the Government resolution which was necessitated in the wake of repeated disruption of both Houses where the Opposition demanded a Government resolution condemning the war.Failing to reach an understanding on the two different words, the option of bringing just one resolution in Hindi was also considered at the meeting; on the text of this there was a consensus among all the parties. The Hindi resolution draft uses the word ‘ninda’ in place of condemning or deploring the war.The two-hour-long meeting was held in the Speaker’s chambers where extra editions of English and Hindi dictionaries were called for adjoining rooms of Parliament officials. The meanings of the words ‘condemn’ and ‘deplore’ were examined at length by the representatives of all parties.At the meeting, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, defending the Government stand, pointed out that the country had never condemned the Soviet aggression on Hungary, the erstwhile Czechslovakia or even Afghanistan. He also stressed that the Government resolution should be within the parameters of diplomatic astuteness.The BJP leaders also mentioned that the text of the motion on Iraq in the Rajya Sahba brought today by Pranab Mukherjee seeks to just ‘‘take note of the fact that Iraq has been attacked.’’ The BJP leaders emphasised that the Government resolution deploring the war was stronger than the Congress motion.Congress chief whip Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said on his party’s stand: ‘‘What was placed in the Rajya Sabha was not a resolution, it was only a motion under Rule 170.’’‘‘The Congress still demands that the Government condemn the war in clear terms. The Government has agreed on all non-controversial issues like aid, but is avoiding condemnation of the war,’’ he added.BJP Parliamentary Party spokesperson V.K. Malhotra said, ‘‘The Government has agreed on all the major aspects of the draft resolution. We have agreed on the demand for immediate cessation of hostilities by the coalition, on humanitarian aid and on preserving the sovereignty of Iraq. We expect the Opposition to agree with us on just one issue.’’An ally of the BJP in the NDA, Telugu Desam Party leader Yerran Naidu said, ‘‘Our party has condemned the war but we leave the text of the resolution to the Government. Because these are matters of diplomatic technicalities.’’Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Somnath Chatterjee said, ‘‘This is nothing but hypocrisy. Condemn means we are saying the US and allied nations are guilty for the war. Deplore only means we are unhappy.’’Lok Janshakti leader Ram Vilas Paswan said ‘‘There was an agreement in Hindi because we all know that no one outside this country understands the language.’’
