Indian premier denies sending troops to Iraq
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, July 8, IRNA -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday denied that there had been any change in the Government`s position on sending troops to Iraq. He made it clear that his Government was committed to the parliamentary resolution against sending troops and if ever there was a need to review that position the "Government will hold the maximum possible discussions with all shades of opinion in Parliament". Indian Prime Minister`s assertion came in the form of his intervention during question hour, after members of parliament (MPs) of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party charged the External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh of misleading the House. The Opposition said Singh had in the presence of the US Secretary of State Colin Powell told the media that India would review its stand on sending troops but had changed his position on his return to the country. Manmohan Singh assured the agitated members that his Government would be guided by the national consensus on foreign policy. "As of now there is no proposal to send troops to Iraq," the prime minister said. "In matters relating to India`s foreign policy, it will be the effort of the government to work on the basis of broadest possible national consensus." The prime minister made it clear that all political parties were bound by the resolution passed by parliament and there was no question of his Government deviating from it. But the opposition continued to press for an apology from the external affairs minister and later walked out in protest. Earlier replying to the queries, the external affairs minister clarified that in Washington he had been asked for his response to the Security Council resolution passed on June 8. He had said that since it was a new resolution he would have to get back to his government but the question of sending troops to Iraq did not arise. He had clarified his stand before the Indian media in Washington the day he learnt that his remarks had been distorted. The opposition refused to accept the minister`s explanation. Meanwhile, the Congress-led government has expressed concern at the violation of international conventions and norms by some members of the United States security forces in "dealing with Iraqi people." Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahmed informed the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) that the government had also taken note of the "punitive and preventive" measures taken by the US government in this regard. "The government has also noted with concern the violation of the sanctity of holy places in Iraq and has emphasized the imperative need to respect the sanctity of the places of religious worship by all concerned in Iraq," he said in a written response on Wednesday. In related development, Indian external affairs ministry has sent instructions to the Indian embassy in Baghdad to establish contact with Indians living in Iraq in order to facilitate their return home, if they so wish. In a letter to the DMK chief, M. Karunanidhi, the External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said in Chennai in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu all efforts had been taken to expedite the process of return of Indians in Iraq. Responding to Karunanidhi`s appeal (dated July 2) regarding the plight of 18 Indians stranded in Falluja, Singh said all of them had since left Iraq with the assistance provided by the Indian Missions in Baghdad and Amman. "The delay in departure from Iraq was due to the time involved in arranging transit visas from Iraq`s neighbouring countries. There is no dependable link with Iraq at present and travel to and from Iraq involves transit through its neighboring country," he said. "As regards the Indian company involved in misleading the 18 Indians into placement in Iraq, I am given to understand that the Protector-General of Emigrants in the Ministry of Labor and Employment has issued show cause notice, preparatory to prosecution," he added. 2160/1414
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