European Parliament Better Watch Out India Too Will Reciprocate To Your Actions In Equal Measures
The European Parliament based in Strasbourg is trying to act bigger than itself and that too in a most foolish manner. Instead of trying to rectify the ongoing misgoverning by various countries in Europe, the ‘know All ‘ will be poking their smelly nose and possibly vote on around six resolutions that have nothing to do with Europe. These are being moved by various fringe group Members of the European Parliament (MEPS).
Some of these members even when totally ignorant of facts and with highly biased views are critical of India’s recent moves on the Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir.
Even though these resolutions are non-binding on member European Countries and will not be even acknowledged by most of their Governments, it will still have a potential to damages India’s relations with some of the European countries.
The main resolution is sponsored by the centre-right European People’s party which is the largest bloc in the EP. The second biggest one is backed by the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists. Both these resolutions say “an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and is not discriminatory”.
The resolutions sponsored by the more left-wing parties like the Greens and Social Democrats rubbishes the CAA for creating the ‘largest statelessness crisis in the world’.
India as a secular, liberal and egalitarian society does not worry about such pressure tactics. However this move by the European parliament is a direct infringement into the internal affairs of India. Therefore the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla wrote to his European counterpart directing him that it is “inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another. A practice that can be surely misused by vested interests.” It would also set a bad precedent, he wrote.
What’s to stop India from passing resolutions on the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe in our Lok Sabha? It would lead to a needless cycle of trying to play holier than thou.
The European Parliament is also a largely toothless body whose opinion may or may not have a bearing on the actual decision making bodies of the European Union, which are the European Council and the European Commission.
Which is perhaps why the European Union spokesperson Virginie Battu-Henriksso distanced the Union from the resolutions brought forth in Parliament. She said “the opinions expressed by the European Parliament do not represent the official position of the European Union”.
Both of these bodies realise the importance that India brings with it as the largest democracy in the world, also as a trading partner and as one of the biggest markets in the world for European goods and services.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit Brussels in mid-March for the 15th annual India-EU summit. Even if India takes no offence at such “barkings of the dogs “ at the least It would make for ‘bad optics’.
On repeated requests, Government of India had permitted a few Members of the European Parliament to visit Kashmir. They had gone back quite satisfied. Now One of those MPs who was part of the delegation that visited Kashmir is also one of the co-sponsors of one of the six resolutions. Such back stabbing can only be done by vilest of the vile.
Though India breakers like Mehbooba Mufti, in a tweet, expressed her appreciation after the European Union (EU) Parliament has decided to discuss the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has hopes for ‘sanctions’ against the BJP-led government over the issue. The twitter handle of the PDP president, a former BJP ally is being operated by her daughter Iltija Mufti after the former was placed under preventive detention.
The European Parliament is set to infringe Indian Sovereignty by debating and voting on a motion tabled by some of its members against CAA, which it alleges marks a “dangerous shift” in the country’s citizenship regime.
A total of six resolutions have been tabled by groups within the EU, including the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group.
So they should be ready to face backlash from the people of India, the Parliament of India and the Government of India. They are also advised that if they so wish, they are free to invite entire Pakistan to settle in Europe and become citizens of various European countries but India will not do so.
European Parliament thinks that it has the right to debate any issue of its choice, European foreign ministers’ dean and Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn has said ahead of the proposed EP debate on draft resolutions on India’s Citizenship Amendment Act.
“Like in all democracies, the European Parliament has the right to debate on issues it chooses. It even questions EU member states on the rule of law or political solidarity, like it did on Poland and Hungary. There is indeed a separation of powers between EU institutions.”
Well India has similar rights and the WILL to exercise that Right.
The EU mission in Delhi, meanwhile, said “the European Parliament is an independent institution, sovereign in the organisation of its work and in its deliberations. The text referred to are draft resolution by political groups in the EP”. Even if passed, the resolutions are not legally binding. Backing the Modi government, a French diplomat told ET, CAA was India’s internal political matter.
Such debating expertize will not be able to bail out the European Union if it makes the mistake of infringing the Indian Sovereignty. Mr Ass Elborn certainly thinks that he is very smart when he continues as under :
“We have stated this on several occasions. The European Parliament is an institution independent of member states and the European Commission.” On his part, Asselborn emphasised on strengthening Indo-EU ties.
India and EU are the biggest parliamentarian democracies and EU is committed to political and economic links with Delhi, he said. “I want to underline that at the last foreign affairs council we clearly stated our wish to strengthen our political and economic links with your great country.
In my opinion, India is a fascinating country with many faiths, languages and cultures. This multicultural approach is a unique advantage, which we Europeans know how to appreciate.”
