CPI demands discussion on foreign affairs in Parliament

Hyderabad, July 9 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary A B Bardhan today demanded the UPA government allow discussion on foreign affairs in both the Houses in the coming monsoon session of Parliament.

Addressing the press here, he said there should be detailed discussions on the agreements and treaties signed by the Foreign Ministry in Parliament which have to be ratified in the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha.

Asserting that there was a need for constitutional amendment to introduce the discussions on foreign affairs in Parliament, Mr Bardhan said the CPI would raise the issue in the next session.

Stating the Defence agreement and the nuclear deal with United States would have serious implications on the foreign policy and might even lead to a situation where it would start impacting country's sovereignty, he said the CPI national council had expressed serious concern over the continued drift of the UPA government from the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) on foreign policy.

Mr Bardhan said the four-day national council meet, which concluded today, urged the Union Government to follow an independent foreign policy and strictly adhere to the promises made in the CMP.

UNI AP ROY PA KN1743