Israeli PM’s remarks on PM Modi’s reason to skip Palestine in his recent visit to Israel were raised in the Rajya Sabha by the Congress on Monday.
Anand Sharma of the Congress party gave a notice under rule 267 and sought suspension of listed activities of the house, saying that it was the Prime Minister’s prerogative to visit any country and he had delinked his visit to Israel with Palestine.
PM Modi had visited Israel from 4 to 6 July but had skipped Palestine.
Sharma said that an audio tape released by a reputed Israeli daily reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a close-door session with leaders from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, had told them that Modi chose the Jewish state to get technology and water and, in the process ignored Palestine.
In the conversation relayed on a ‘hot-mic’, Netanyahu told the European leaders in Budapest that Modi told him that he needed water for his people which he cannot get from Ramallah, he said.
The Congress leader said that India had always stood in solidarity with Palestine.
As deputy chairman, PJ Kurien disallowed the notice, Sharma said the comments made by the Prime Minister in private conversation involves “dignity of office”.
As the Congress members sought a response from the government, Kurien said he was not blocking the government from responding but at the same time, he cannot direct them to do so. “It is up to the government whether to respond or not,” he said.
