India to boycott Commonwealth Parliamentary Union meeting in Islamabad next month: Lok Sabha Speaker

A meeting of Speakers unanimously decided that India will boycott a Commonwealth Parliamentary Union meeting in Islamabad next month in protest against Pakistan not inviting the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, a decision that comes in the midst of tensions over two terror attacks in Punjab and J&K.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said this was against a rule in the CPU in which all the Speakers, who are members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), have to be extended an invitation to the CPU meeting.

"It is wrong (on the part of Pakistan). They cited an old rule of 1951-57 regarding their having raised an issue in the UN Security Council for not inviting J and K Speaker," she said adding it had lost relevance.

Welcoming the decision J&K Speaker Ravindra Gupta, who attended the meeting, thanked the Speakers for the decision saying it was a question of unity and integrity of the country. He called Pakistan a terrorist state.

"The meeting resolved to call upon Dr Shirin Chaudhury, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament and Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee to use her good offices to immediately resolve the matter and ensure issue of invitation to the Jammu and Kashmir 'CPA Branch' failing which 'CPA India Region' including the Union and State Branches' (will) boycott the 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Islamabad, Pakistan from September 30 to October 8...," the resolution said.

India's Parliament and Assemblies are treated as 'India region' and all the Assemblies are the members of the CPA. The resolution underlined that Jammu and Kashmir "fulfills all conditions" of CPA membership.

"The meeting further resolved that Chairperson and members of the Executive Committee of CPA view this matter in all seriousness and insist that Pakistan CPA Branch forfeit its right to host the 61st CP conference for not inviting Jammu and Kashmir CPA Branch to the conference in violation of Article 8 of the CPA Constitution and that the venue of the conference be shifted to another country,” it said. Article 8 of the CPA Constitution says that each 'Branch' (meaning Parliament and State Assemblies) "shall be entitled to send prescribed number of delegates and officials to each plenary conference and accordingly Jammu and Kashmir Branch is entitled to send one delegate to the Conference."

The meeting authorised Lok Sabha Speaker, who is the chairperson of CPA India Region, to take "such further action as may be deemed necessary in the matter".

Gupta said Pakistan deliberately wanted to keep his state away from the conference to "humiliate" India.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and thanked the Lok Sabha Speaker and Speakers of other Assemblies on taking the stand.

Gupta added that "Pakistan is a terrorist state and many countries do not want to go there" to attend the Conference. PTI AKK "The meeting resolved to call upon Dr Shirin Chaudhury, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament and Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee to use her good offices to immediately resolve the matter and ensure issue of invitation to the Jammu and Kashmir 'CPA Branch' failing which 'CPA India Region' including the Union and State Branches' (will) boycott the 61st Commonwealth P ..

India's Parliament and Assemblies are treated as 'India region' and all the Assemblies are the members of the CPA.

The resolution underlined that Jammu and Kashmir "fulfils all conditions" of CPA membership.

"The meeting further resolved that Chairperson and members of the Executive Committee of CPA view this matter in all seriousness and insist that Pakistan CPA Branch forfeit its right to host the 61st CP conference for not inviting Jammu and Kashmir CPA Branch to the conference in violation of Article 8 of the CPA Constitution and that the venue of the conference be shifted to another country," it said.

Article 8 of the CPA Constitution says that each 'Branch' (meaning Parliament and State Assemblies) "shall be entitled to send prescribed number of delegates and officials to each plenary conference and accordingly Jammu and Kashmir Branch is entitled to send one delegate to the Conference."

The meeting authorised Lok Sabha Speaker, who is the chairperson of CPA India Region, to take "such further action as may be deemed necessary in the matter".

The Speaker said India took up the issue with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat after Jammu and Kashmir was not invited while all other states of India received the invitations.

The CPA Secretariat talked to Pakistan Assembly Speaker who expressed "constraint" in inviting Jammu and Kashmir. Invitations for the conference are sent by the host country.

Gupta said Pakistan deliberately wanted to keep his state away from the conference to "humiliate" India.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and thanked the Lok Sabha Speaker and Speakers of other Assemblies on taking the stand.

Gupta added that "Pakistan is a terrorist state and many countries do not want to go there" to attend the Conference.

(Image credits: Indiatimes)