Group of EU MPs had visited Kashmir, put proposal for debate on CAA

Diplomatic a tussle between the Union and India has

been implicated in the European Union’s Parliament on a total of 6 resolutions regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act of India and the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. READ MORE

These proposals are being put on the table of Parliament on Wednesday, on which votes will be cast on January 30. However, the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India has not given any official statement about this nor has it done any briefing on it.

But instead of the foreign minister, the law minister’s statement has come from the government, in which he has made such proposals a conspiracy of organizations with ‘left alliances’.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also written a letter to the Speaker of the European Union Parliament, David Sasoli, asking him to ‘reconsider the proposals’ criticizing India. READ MORE

In his letter, he has said that bringing such a proposal on the decisions of ‘one legislature to another’ will be the beginning of ‘an unhealthy tradition’.

The Law Minister of India says that the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act from the Parliament of India is an ‘internal matter of India which has been done under the democratic process’.

Among the proposals that have been introduced in the 751-member European Parliament include the Citizenship Amendment Act and the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the National Register of Citizens i.e. ‘NRC’.

The groups that have proposed the proposal include the centrist-right organization — the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and the Middle Way Organization — ‘Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats’ ie ‘S&D’. Whereas Left Front Front — European United Left Nordic Green Left ‘GUE / NGL’ MPs are also included in this.

These 6 proposals are signed by a total of 626 MPs, including seven MPs who were visited by the Indian government in Jammu and Kashmir in October last year.

It is being discussed in diplomatic circles that when the government invited the MPs of the European Union to visit Jammu and Kashmir, then such a proposal in the European Parliament, is there a diplomatic lapse in India?

Delegation of 23 European MPs reached Kashmir last year.

However, the European Union or European Union has separated itself from these proposals. The State Department of the Union has clarified that what is going on inside their Parliament does not mean that it should be the idea of ​​ the European Union as well. They have called it a parliamentary process.

But Labor Party leader and MP in the European Parliament Richard Graham Corbett said in a mail sent to BBC Hindi: “It is also the most serious thing that the citizenship law brought by India is being discussed in the European Parliament.” Friends of India are hoping that the Modi government will change its stand on this law.

Om Birla says that this law has been passed by the democratically elected government from both houses of the Parliament of India.

But ‘GUE / NGL’ MP Idoia Villanueva, who played a key role in bringing these proposals said in a recorded statement sent to the media on the mail that cases of freedom of expression and human rights violations are increasing all over the world. She says that incidents of repression are being seen in different countries of the world.

He said, “In this regard, we are thinking what should be the role of the European Union?” We feel that the European Union must respect the autonomy of the countries and also ensure that the rights of the people do not become secondary. ‘’

Regarding the proposals being brought in the European Union Parliament, she says: “Modi’s coming to power and the emergence of Hindu fundamentalist nationalism is worrisome.” Two things were seen in it — the closure of communication equipment in Jammu and Kashmir and the introduction of new citizenship law. This is a direct attack on the harmony and diversity of India. The European Union is looking towards strategic agreements with India but we cannot ignore the human rights situation. ‘’

But according to the latest information, the European Conservatives and Reformists, which has 66 members, has been pushed back by these proposals. The number of members who have brought proposals against India in the Parliament of the European Union numbering 751, now only 560. Now it is also difficult to say whether more MPs will shy away from proposals.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says that Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is in touch with the European Union and its MPs. At the same time, Ambassador Gayatri Issar Kumar of Brussels is discussing separately with the groups of MPs who brought the proposal.

Efforts are being made from India so that voting on these proposals can be avoided.

But some diplomats believe that the European Union MPs have been victims of the propaganda being spread against India by Pakistan and this will only add to the confusion.

Speaking to the media, former diplomat Rajiv Dogra said: “It is clear that EU MPs have been victims of propaganda.” It is not that those illegally residing in France or Italy are not evicted or that those living illegally in England have not been sent to jail. These MPs who are isolating India only, are doing this only on the pretext of Pakistan.

Earlier, Malaysia had also commented on the citizenship law of India, due to which the ongoing trade between the two countries was also affected due to which Malaysia is studying to face loss.

Diplomats say that the impact of such proposals between European countries and India will be soon to say, but in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to go to Brussels. Before that, such proposals also have an impact on diplomatic relations.

Originally published at https://www.mubahisa.in.