Pranab takes on Oppn over envoy’s remarks

The Government foiled BJP game-plan today to build a case of Parliament adopting a resolution declaring Arunachal a part of India.

The Government foiled BJP game-plan today to build a case of Parliament adopting a resolution declaring Arunachal a part of India. “The resolution is already there,” Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee said while capping an hour-long discussion in the Lok Sabha. He said the issue of Arunachal being an integral part of India “is not debatable’’ at all. At the same time, he appealed to members of the House not to “create a situation, which will unnecessarily heighten tension.”

While pointing out that eight rounds of discussions had been held by special representatives to work out a mechanism to resolve border dispute, he said, “Let us allow the process to continue.” The issue was raised by Leader of the Opposition LK Advani during zero hour. He took an exception to the remark made by Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi on the eve of the visit of President Hu Jintao that “the entire Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory.”

Regarding Advani’s query whether or not the Government had summoned the ambassador or lodged a formal protest, Mukherjee pointed out that he had “made it quite clear” the very next day that Arunachal is an integral part of India. “When the highest person in the Ministry of External Affairs himself is refuting, these niceties are not required.” Besides, he said, “our ambassador in Beijing drew the attention of the Chinese authorities and pointed out that this statement should not have come from the Chinese Ambassador just on the eve of the visit.”

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Advani sought to know if any of the Indian leaders had raised the issue of Sun’s remarks with Hu. Mukherjee skirted this question.

The Leader of the Opposition drew support from Brij Kishore Tripathy of the Biju Janata Dal, Prabhunath Singh of Janata Dal (U) and Arun Sarma of AGP. The BJP also fielded both its members from Arunachal Tapir Gao and Khiren Rijijju.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta asserted that Arunachal is a part of India. He also termed Sun’s statement “uncalled for.” However, BJP members tried to shout him down when he said “let us not sow seeds of discontent” in India-China relations. The BJP members protested loudly as Dasgupta said: “I do not take it (Sun’s remark) as the opinion of the Chinese Government.” Speaker Somnath Chatterjee turned to BJP members that it was not necessary for them to agree with Dasgupta, but he must be allowed to have his say.

While being critical of both the timing and content of the Chinese envoy’s remark, Mohammad Salim of the CPI(M) said, “We don’t have to shout from the rooftop that Arunachal is a part of India.” There was an uproar the moment he talked of the “dispute” while referring to the conflicting views of India and China.

Left charges BJP with doublespeak

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NEW DELHI: The BJP plans to move an adjournment motion on national security in the Lok Sabha on Monday, sources said on Friday. They did not say as much, but Leader of the Opposition L K Advani is likely to move the motion. BJP deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra touched the issue briefly before the House took up Question Hour. Malhotra said Home Minister Shivraj Patil had projected an alarming scenario by stating that India’s nuclear, oil and power installations faced a serious threat from terrorists. He demanded a statement on the issue pointing out that Patil had not taken Parliament into confidence. Samajwadi Party member Mohan Singh raised the issue of detention of Abu Azmi, his party MP, in Maharashtra and the denial of permission to UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh yadav to address a rally in the state.

Adjournment motion on Monday