NEW DELHI, May 3: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs led by senior BJP leader L K Advani today met President Pranab Mukherjee and raised the issues of Sarabjit Singh, who died after a brutal attack in a Pakistani jail, and Chinese incursion in Ladakh.
They also submitted an memorandum to the President and criticised the Centre’s foreign policy over both the issues.
The NDA leaders said the nation was today deeply aggrieved and full of anger at this “visible drift” in the management of the country’s external relations.
They said Sarabjit Singh’s murder in the Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail could not have taken place without official connivance, at least of some Pakistani authorities.
“What distresses us very greatly is the inaction of the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs and the officials concerned to not constantly have monitored this case and ensured his safe return to India,” the NDA leaders said.
“We are persuaded to emphasise this because we hold that our government’s inaction in this case cannot be condoned. They owe the country an explanation and an apology. They must provide it,” they said.
On Chinese incursion in Ladakh, the NDA leaders said mindful of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) being still under negotiations, hence undefined, yet, the manner of this recent incursion, or this arbitrary and unilateral breach cannot be viewed as normal conduct.
“It is violative of agreed principles governing the conduct of forces of PRC (People’s Republic of China) in respect of the LAC,” they said in the memorandum.
BJP chief Rajnath Singh said the area where China has infiltrated was under the Army till 2010. The government pulled out the Army from there and handed it over to ITBP, which falls under the Home Ministry.
Mr Singh said the area under ITBP be handed back to the Army.
The BJP also said there should be no Foreign Minister talks between India-China till the Chinese troops go back from the Indian territory.
The BJP has also been demanding that Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid call off his visit to China on May 9 till the time Chinese troops withdrew from Daulat Beg Oldi area.
“We would like to emphasise, sir, that only because LAC is undefined therefore, unilateral physical definition to it can be given through unilateral and forceful occupation of select sites or locations is simply not acceptable.
“The government and the Prime Minister have repeatedly announced that this is a localised incident. May we submit this would tantamount to a disingenuous evasion of government’s responsibility?” the NDA memorandum said.
It said even if ‘localised’, in DBO (Daulat Beg Oldi) or Depsang plains, this manner of unilateral ‘localised’ actions, resulting in seizure of land, amounts to giving a forcible and physical definition to the LAC. “This simply cannot be accepted”.
“On this occasion, there is a need for us to recall a resolution adopted by both Houses of Parliament in the month of November, 1962. Also to remind the government that silent acquiescence in the face of fait-accompli, whether of Pakistan, or China is unforgivable pusillanimity. This is simply not acceptable. The government must govern, or it must go,” the memorandum added.
(AGENCIES)
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