Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj reach out to opposition parties

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday evening met opposition parties to discuss on two crucial issues - the India-China standoff in Doklam and the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was held at home minister Rajnath Singh's residence and aimed at briefing the opposition parties about the situation. Demanding that the Centre "share full information" on stand-off with China and the Kashmir situation, the Congress attended the meeting called by the government.

Emerging from the meeting, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma told reporters that their party has raised some doubts before the government but made it clear that "nation is first -- be it China or Kashmir". "There is too much of tension and that should be lowered through diplomacy. We will also raise the issue in Parliament," both the leaders said.

The decision to address the meeting was taken after the nation was hounded on both sides, by Pakistan and China.

Invitation for the meeting was sent out by the External Affairs Ministry ahead of the Monsoon Session of parliament, which is set to start from 17 July.

China and India have been engaged in the standoff in the area for the past three weeks after a Chinese Army's construction party attempted to build a road. Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.

Opposition leaders have been criticising the government for the way it has handled China and Kashmir. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on China.

OneIndia News