Front Page   

Centre should make stand clear: Sinha

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, JUNE 11. The former External Affairs Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Yashwant Sinha, today reminded the Centre that "there was a Parliament resolution on Iraq" and, as yet, "no material change" in the situation in Iraq that would leave "any scope for reconsideration of the earlier Indian decision not to send troops to that country."

Mr. Sinha was reacting to a reported statement of the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, from Washington. "What I have seen of that statement and what I heard him say [on television] was that the [new] United Nations resolution was adopted unanimously, also supported by some Arab countries. This is not a new development, earlier U.N. resolutions had also been adopted unanimously."

He said the extent of sovereignty that the new Iraqi government would enjoy after June 30 was not clear. "What kind of sovereignty, what would be the responsibilities of the coalition forces, what would be the role of the U.N. forces... We will have to watch carefully." Then there was also the grim security situation and no certainty that it would improve in the near future.

In the past, Indian troops sent abroad had worked under the command of the United Nations or on their own, but never under the command of a third country, Mr. Sinha said. "This will have to be kept in mind while taking any decision. There is no material change and, therefore, no scope for reconsideration of the decision [not to send Indian troops to Iraq]."

Mr. Sinha hoped that the Government would "come clear" on the important issue and keep in mind the "unanimous parliamentary resolution" on the subject.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• India to take `new look' at sending troops to Iraq
• I too have received complaints on situation in U.P.: Patil
• Centre should make stand clear: Sinha
• India must rule out sending troops: CPI(M)
• Najma joins BJP
• New Cabinet Secretary
• Man thrown out of train
• Ambika Soni in Congress list
• One killed in BJP-SP clash
• Sensex crashes
• Pakistan crackdown

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu