NEW DELHI, 31 July — India’s right-wing government came under a blistering attack in Parliament yesterday over its “submissive and weak-kneed” response to US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s demand that New Delhi allow foreign observers to monitor forthcoming elections in disputed Kashmir.
During his lightening trip to the subcontinent last week, Powell referred to Kashmir as being on the “international agenda;” pressed US demand for observation of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by international monitors and called for release of separatist Kashmiri leaders.
An angry opposition accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of “surrendering” Indian sovereignty to the US. The entire opposition along with several key allies (Telugu Desam, Trinamool Congress and Samata Party) questioned the Indian government’s “submissive and weak-kneed” response to Powell’s remarks. They asked the government to clarify its stand and demanded a written statement from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
The government tried to pacify the house when junior Foreign Minister Digvijay Singh said: “Elections have been held (in Kashmir) for several years and they have always been free and fair. Elections were held even during the emergency, so no one can doubt us about their impartiality.” He was referring to the 17-month period of national emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Rejecting Powell’s suggestion of international monitoring of the Kashmir elections, Singh said, “India is a country of one billion people. We are committed to our foreign policy and we don’t need any suggestions”.
BJP spokesman Sunil Shastri added that India did not need a certificate from the United States. “Anyone is welcome to come here as a tourist or in their individual capacity but we certainly don’t need a certificate on our democracy. We reject Powell’s statement,” said Shastri.
Telugu Desam Party’s leader in Parliament, Yerran Naidu, said, “Colin Powell came to India. He has given three objectionable statements — it (Kashmir) is an international issue, prisoners should be released, and also elections should be conducted with international observers. My party is condemning all these three issues. I am requesting through you that, the prime minister should come to the house and give a reply on these three issues. The spokesperson has given a reply which has not satisfied anybody, Parliament is in session, the prime minister should give a reply to clarify the position.”
Congress leader Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said, “I am surprised that such a soft rebuttal came from the government and that Parliament has not been taken into confidence till today.”
Washington, meanwhile, reiterated that Kashmir was on the international agenda and that the US will take an active interest in seeking a resolution of the issue. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said, “As the Secretary (Powell) said, Kashmir is on the international agenda.”
