Sushma Swaraj maintains that India did not 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 Sushma Swaraj “provided wrong information on the Bandung Asia Africa relations conference”. They added that while Sushma 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. A senior Congress member alleged that first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s name was omitted from the address delivered by the Minister of State for External Affairs at the conference.

A Trinamool Congress member supported the Congress member in attacking the government. However, Sushma Swaraj said India did not address the Bandung Conference. She said the speech which was being referred 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 motion 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.

The Congress member 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 to Afghanistan.

Bandung Conference

The Bandung Conference was a historic meeting of Asian and African states held in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955. It was a major milestone in the decolonization process and the Cold War, as it promoted cooperation among newly independent nations and led to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement. The conference’s principles, known as the “Bandung Principles,” advocated for world peace and cooperation.

Rajya Sabha

The 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 permanent body that is not subject to dissolution.

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 various empires including the Mughals, who left an enduring architectural legacy such as the Lahore Fort 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 rich history as a trading and military outpost, with ancient forts like the Nurpur Fort nearby, reflecting its past significance under various regional empires.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a historically rich crossroads of civilizations, with a legacy shaped by empires like the Greco-Bactrian and Timurid. Its cultural sites include the ancient Buddha statues of Bamiyan and the Minaret of Jam, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The country’s recent history has been marked by prolonged conflict, which has impacted its people and cultural heritage.

Pakistan

Pakistan is a modern nation-state established in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. Its territory is home to ancient civilizations, most notably the Indus Valley Civilization, which dates back over 8,000 years. The region has a rich history of successive empires, including Persian, Greek, Islamic, and British rule.

Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif is not a place or cultural site, but a prominent Pakistani politician who served three terms as Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a key figure in the country’s political history and the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party. His political career has been marked by periods of governance, exile, and significant influence on Pakistan’s economic and foreign policies.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first Prime Minister, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964, and was a central figure in the Indian independence movement. While not a place itself, his legacy is honored at sites like the Nehru Planetarium and Teen Murti Bhavan, his former official residence in New Delhi, which now serves as a museum dedicated to his life and the history of modern India.