Sushma Swaraj maintains that India didn’t address the Bandung Conference.

New Delhi: The Congress along with other opposition parties has moved a privilege motion against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha for allegedly misleading the House over two issues — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lahore visit in 2015 and the Bandung Conference in Indonesia the same year.

Leaders of different political parties have alleged that Ms Swaraj “provided wrong information on the Bandung Asia Africa relations conference”. They added that while Ms Swaraj claimed that she had not delivered any speech during the Bandung conference, the opposition parties have downloaded a purported speech and will attach it as proof.

The government and the opposition yesterday engaged in a verbal duel in the Rajya Sabha over India’s statement at the Bandung Conference. Senior Congress member Anand Sharma alleged that first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s name was omitted from the address delivered by Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh at the conference.

Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien supported Mr Sharma in attacking the government. However, Ms Swaraj said India didn’t address the Bandung Conference. She said the speech which Mr Sharma was referring to was delivered at another Afro-Asian Conference held separately.

“These were two different conferences,” she maintained.

Pandit Nehru was one of the founder members of the Bandung Conference in 1955.

The second privilege is for allegedly “misinforming the House on PM Modi’s 2015 Lahore visit, claiming that there was no terror incident after that”.

The opposition, however, said that the Pathankot terror attack happened immediately after PM Modi’s visit and there were five other terror-related incidents after that too.

Mr Sharma also demanded to know why PM Modi made that visit to Pakistan and “why, till date, nobody knows the details of the meeting”.

“You were going to Afghanistan and got down at Lahore mid-way; till date the Prime Minister hasn’t told the nation what talks took place. On one hand, you get miffed and cancel talks after Pakistan invites separatists on a tea party, and on the other hand, you make a dramatic visit breaching all protocols,” he said.

In December 2015, PM Modi’s spontaneous decision to “drop by” Lahore to extend courtesies to Nawaz Sharif on his birthday drew criticism from opposition parties. PM Modi was on his way to Delhi after a day-long trip today to Afghanistan.

Bandung Conference

The Bandung Conference was a meeting of Asian and African states organized by Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan, which took place in April 1955. It is historically significant as a major milestone in the decolonization process and the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement, as it promoted cooperation and opposed colonialism. The conference’s concluding communiqué promoted world peace and cooperation based on the “Ten Principles of Bandung.”

Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India’s bicameral Parliament, representing the states and union territories of the Indian Union. It was first constituted in 1952, following the adoption of India’s constitution, and serves as a chamber of revision and a check on the more populist lower house. Its members are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.

Lahore

Lahore is a major cultural, historical, and economic center in Pakistan, often called the country’s “cultural heart” or “City of Gardens.” Its history spans over a millennium, having served as a capital for the Mughal Empire, which left an iconic architectural legacy including the Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens, and the Badshahi Mosque.

Pathankot

Pathankot is a city in the Indian state of Punjab, historically known as a strategic gateway due to its location at the confluence of three northern states. It has a long history as a royal route and a trading center, with its ancient Pathania Rajput heritage still visible in the nearby Nurpur Fort. Today, it is a major transportation and military hub.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a historically significant crossroads of Central Asia, home to ancient civilizations like the Bactrians and a key location along the Silk Road. Its rich cultural heritage includes landmarks such as the Minaret of Jam and the Buddhas of Bamiyan, though it has suffered greatly from recent decades of conflict.

Pakistan

Pakistan is a modern nation-state established in 1947 as a homeland for Muslims of British India, with a history deeply rooted in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Its cultural landscape is a rich tapestry of diverse ethnic groups, Islamic heritage, and historic influences from various empires, including the Mughals and the British.

Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi is not a place or cultural site, but the current Prime Minister of India. He is a political figure who previously served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. His political career and policies are a significant part of contemporary Indian history.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964. A central figure in the Indian independence movement, he was a key architect of the modern Indian state, championing secularism, democracy, and scientific progress. While not a physical place, numerous institutions, stadiums, and cultural centers across India are named in his honor, such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.