Govt in dock on Arunachal issue, RS adjourns till 1400 Hrs

Delhi, Nov 24: Opposition BJP in Rajya Sabha today blasted the ruling UPA government for its failure to counter Beijing's claim on Arunachal during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and charged the CPI-M with not condemning the 1962 aggression on India till date.

The House was subsequently adjourned for 90 minutes amid slogan-shouting by BJP members, who trooped into the well of the House, while CPM and Congress countered the charges.

ARUNACHAL TWO RS The matter was raised during Zero Hour by the BJP. Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh accused the government of keeping the country's foreign policy and territorial integrity ''mortgaged'' to the CPM. He took the CPM to task for not condemning till date the Chinese aggression on India in 1962.

''Let them (CPM) state clearly and unambiguously that People's Republic of China is the aggressor,'' he said.

Observing that he was hesitating to raise the matter, ''a sad episode that has happened to the country,'' Mr Jaswant Singh said the foreign policies of the government were directed by the CPM.

''Total compromise with India's territorial integrity is not, and cannot be, a good policy. At least important foreign policy issues, that judge the territorial integrity of the nation, cannot be decided by proxy'' he added.

Ms Sushma Swaraj asked why wasn't the matter (Chinese claim on Arunachal) raised with Pesident Hu Jintao.

Mr Singh said the government should be tough on the matter, saying the problem could not be solved in a soft tone.

He urged the House to state ''clearly and unambiguously'' that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and shall remain so.

''I appeal to the government not to keep our foreign policy mortgaged to the CPM. That way you are keeping your country mortgaged,'' he said.

Mr Sitaram Yechuri (CPM), rejecting as ''apalling'' the charges made by Mr Jaswant Singh, said the CPM's stand is and had always been that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. He, however, said it was an ''issue'' which could be solved only through negotiations and not war. ''Our stand is very clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integtral part of India and shall remain so. This is an issue and China is making claims which we are not accepting. It can be resolved through negotiations. This is the position we have taken,'' he added.

Referring to Mr Singh's demand that the House made it clear that Arunachal is an integral part of India, Mr Yechuri said the territorial integrity of the country is governed by the Constitution and the House cannot pass resolutions about every state being an integral part of India.

''POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is not a part of India today...We don't have to learn patriotism from the killers of Mahatma Gandhi,'' he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said he had clarified on behalf of the government that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India and his statement should satisfy the members. However, much of his remark was drowned by sloganeering.

Immediately after this, the Opposition members trooped into the well of the House. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1400 Hrs.

UNI