LS speaker Birla protests EU Parliament resolution on Manipur in meeting with legislative body's VP
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla told European Parliament vice-president Nicola Beer in a bilateral meeting here on Saturday.
Birla said this in protest against European Parliament's July resolution on the human rights situation in India in the backdrop of violence in Manipur.
The resolution, 'India, the situation in Manipur', was placed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. It called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence in Manipur and to «protect all religious minorities».
India then said it was «unacceptable» and a reflection of «colonial mindset».
At their meeting on the sidelines of the P20 summit here, Birla also invited Beer to watch the «festival of democracy» during the Indian general elections next year.
Ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, concluded on Saturday with a valedictory address of Birla.
In his concluding remarks Birla stressed on multilaterals observed in the inter-connected world and said, «We cannot view any particular issue in isolation.»
Citing the joint statement of the P20 speakers issued on Friday, Birla reiterated that parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue in relevant fora act as a catalyst for promoting international peace, prosperity and harmony while supporting the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes.
Birla handed over the P20 presidency to the parliament of Brazil.
