India has to explore an independent and meaningful role in the region: Deve Gowda on Afghan crisis
Bengaluru, Aug 26: Terming the situation in Afghanistan as "extremely complex", Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday said that India has to explore an independent and meaningful role in the region, instead of playing part roles set by other nations.
The veteran politician also said that if India wants to play a bigger role on the world stage, "we should do the right things in our own country."
"It is now well recognised that the situation in Afghanistan is extremely complex. Including the G7, no country appears to have a plan on how to go ahead in a country that has suddenly collapsed. All efforts made there in the last 20 years have come to nothing," Gowda said.
In his statement at the All Party Meeting on Afghanistan, he said, India, being part of the international community- that had contributed to the democratic hope of Afghanistan, has to reflect as to why such a thing happened.
"In this crisis, to secure India's security and strategic interests is of course the priority. But India also has to realise that it has a larger humanitarian and statesmanly role to play. We are the only large democratic country in Afghanistan's neighbourhood which is sure of its founding principles," he said.
Further stating that India has to explore an independent and meaningful role in the region instead of playing part roles set by other nations, the JD(S) supremo said this could be a big moment to fine tune foreign policy.
"Ultimately, peace and stability of the region is in India's self-interest. There is a humanitarian, security, economic and democratic crisis in Afghanistan and when we formulate our approach, we should take all these aspects into consideration and decide with equanimity.
Of all that we have read about Afghanistan in the last few days, there is very little clarity about the role the United Nations wishes to play in this situation. This tells us a lot about the world today," he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed the leaders during the all-party meet on the Afghan situation.
Noting that if India was to play a bigger role on the world stage and secure the nation's multiple interests in the region, the "right things" should be done in the country, Gowda said, "We have to ensure that our most vulnerable regions, like Jammu and Kashmir, are handled properly. Democratic and constitutional aspirations there have to be addressed sincerely."
"We have to also take care of our North-Eastern region. We have to work faithfully towards treating our entire population with the dignity that our Constitution guarantees them as citizens," he said.
Implications for India will be huge if we do not urgently understand the importance of this, he said, adding that "Besides this, to invest hugely in developing an independent, peaceful and economic relationship with nations in our neighbourhood may be of greater strategic value in the short and long run."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Punjab CM Mann meets President Murmu, seeks cancellation of membership of 6 RS members
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday met President Droupadi Murmu, demanding the termination of the membership of six Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab who defected to the BJP and also pressed for the introduction of a constitutional provision allowing for the recall of members.
Accompanied by party MLAs and ministers, Mann visited Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
This meeting followed a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on April 24, when seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs -- Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney and Swati Maliwal -- quit and merged with the BJP, alleging that the party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals. Six of the seven MPs who left AAP hailed from Punjab.
After he met with the President, Mann addressed the media here, describing the departure of the seven MPs as a "murder" of the Constitution. He stated, "Seven MPs merging with another party is completely unconstitutional. I spoke to Rashtrapati ji in detail."
Mann pointed out that he told the President that the BJP holds only two MLA seats (in Punjab), yet now has six MPs in the Rajya Sabha. He questioned, "How can this be possible? Isn't it a mockery of the Constitution?
"If they are such revolutionaries at heart, then they should have resigned from their six seats. The AAP could have sent someone else," Mann said, taking a swipe at them.
He emphasised the need for a recall provision in the Constitution, referencing MP Raghav Chadha's previous demands for such a measure when members fail to meet public expectations.
"Have you lived up to the expectations of the people?" Mann challenged the MPs during his statement.
Mann also presented a letter to the President, signed by all AAP MLAs. He differentiated between the terms 'elected' and 'selected,' stating, "They were 'selected.' Therefore, their membership should be cancelled."
The President assured Mann that she would consult constitutional experts before responding.
Earlier in the day, Mann, along with party MLAs, departed for Delhi from Chandigarh.
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Mann affirmed that all AAP MLAs stand united with the party. "Only I have been given time for the meeting," Mann said.
"The President is the guardian of the Constitution. She is the constitutional head of the country," he added.
Later in a post on X in Hindi, Mann said, "Our struggle to protect Punjab's rights and interests continues. Today, along with all AAP MLAs, I have left to discuss Punjab's burning issues and present the state's strong voice before the President.
As your public servant, our government remains fully committed to Punjab's prosperity and the safeguarding of the rights of every section of society."
The MLAs and ministers gathered at the chief minister's residence in the morning before heading to Delhi, carrying placards that read 'Punjab Mann De Naal' and 'Punjab's Traitors.'
The legislators left for Delhi in buses.
Mann had previously sought an appointment with the President to meet with party MLAs and demand the "recall" of the Rajya Sabha MPs who defected to the BJP. However, only Mann was given a time slot for the meeting.
