Allow LAC discussion, argues the opposition in Parliament; exits once more
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury led the walkout in the Lok Sabha when they were refused the opportunity to speak.
To protest the government’s unwillingness to address the clash between the Indian and Chinese armed forces on December 9 in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, opposition parties left Parliament on Wednesday.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury led the walkout in the Lok Sabha when they were refused the opportunity to speak. Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress and the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, organised the walkout.
The protests started after the leaders of 17 opposition parties resolved to steadfastly maintain their demand for a debate at a strategy conference called by Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. After Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, made a statement in the House, the opposition demanded a discussion and clarifications, but their request was denied.
In the House, Kharge stated that the opposition supports the army and the nation and that they want a debate to collect all the facts about Chinese aggression and encroachment on Indian land. However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asserted that because the Chair had not been given any notice, no discussion of the matter could be held.
On Tuesday as well, Kharge led the opposition’s call for a debate, requesting that the matter be discussed in accordance with Rule 267 and calling the day’s proceedings to a halt.
Brazen Chinese violations are compromising our national security and territorial integrity, and the administration is doing little to stop them. The bravery of our armed men in Galwan Valley, Ladakh, is well-known, but from April 2020, China has boldly trespassed on our territory. Chinese infractions up to Y intersection in Depsang Plains are still illegal and unprovoked. Similar is the situation with Chinese incursions into the Eastern Ladakh regions of Gogra and Hot Springs, Kharge said on Tuesday.
He claimed that China had refused to leave Indian land in spite of a request to guarantee the status quo ante as of April 2020.”China has been deliberately obscuring itself behind our Prime Minister’s speech from June 20, 2020, insisting that nobody has crossed into our territory,” he stated.
Singh spoke in the House on Tuesday, and following his remarks, deputy chairman Harivansh claimed there was no precedent for permitting a discussion. However, the opposition left.
Speaking to reporters outside of Parliament, Kharge stated that while his party supported the armed forces, the administration must provide explanations. “Despite repeated requests from the opposition, the administration refused to permit a discussion on China’s infringement. The defence minister left without providing the House with any new information.This is bad for the country, he declared.
He declared that if the government won’t provide any clarifications, it is “pointless” to remain within the House.
The deputy chairman, according to RJD MP Manoj Jha, mentioned several precedents but ignored the debate about the India-China War that took place in Parliament in 1962. According to Jha, this leadership “lives in blatant denial of the Indo-China war.”
