'Don't Think It's Under Foreign Policy': MEA On Row Over Rahul Gandhi's UK Remarks
"It is being discussed in the Parliament. Indian govt's efforts are always there to share India's perspective & foreign policy with other countries to further advance India's interest," MEA stated.
Amid a raging row over Rahul Gandhi's remarks in London over the state of democracy in India, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday stated that "its not under foreign policy," news agency ANI reported.
"It is being discussed in the Parliament. Indian govt's efforts are always there to share India's perspective & foreign policy with other countries to further advance India's interest," MEA Spokesperson further stated.
I don't think it's under foreign policy, it is being discussed in the Parliament. Indian govt's efforts are always there to share India's perspective & foreign policy with other countries to further advance India's interest: MEA spox on Rahul Gandhi's remarks in London… https://t.co/KLk2NY0O96 pic.twitter.com/6aIEyrhPT6
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2023
Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the government had created the entire "tamasha" surrounding his comments in the UK in order to draw attention away from the Adani issue. He added that it would be a "test of Indian democracy" if he were permitted to address the allegations made by the BJP in Parliament.
During a press briefing at the AICC headquarters, Gandhi said the issue facing the nation is whether a member of Parliament would be allowed the same room as them after four BJP leaders levelled charges against him or whether he would be "told to shut up."
Gandhi visited Speaker Om Birla when he returned to Parliament House on Thursday and pleaded with him to let him speak in the Lok Sabha.
"I went to Parliament this morning with the idea of putting (forward) what I have said or what I feel on the floor of the House. Four ministers have raised allegations against me in Parliament House, it is my right to be allowed to speak on the floor of the House," Gandhi was quoted by PTI in its report.
"I told him (the Speaker) that people from the BJP have made allegations against me and as a member of Parliament, it is my right to speak," he said.
Rahul Gandhi's UK tour, where he delivered a lecture at his alma mater Cambridge University and spoke at UK Parliament, has triggered controversy back in India. The BJP has accused Rahul of insulting India's democracy on foreign land.
Congress has hit back at the ruling party, citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics abroad.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings have been disrupted for the fourth day in a row amid uproar and sloganeering over Rahul Gandhi's remarks.
During his week-long trip to the UK earlier this month, Gandhi alleged that the structures of Indian democracy were under attack and there was a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions.
The former Congress president also told a group of British MPs in London that microphones are often "turned off" in Lok Sabha when an opposition member raises important issues.
"Our microphones are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can't switch them on. That's happened to me a number of times while I am speaking," Gandhi had said.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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