New Delhi: A Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and spokesperson for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Saket Gokhale, has accused the Modi government of shockingly blocking legitimate questions about Israel from MPs in parliament.
The MP had submitted a parliamentary question, a copy pf which he shared on social media, seeking details on the number of Israeli citizens overstaying their visas in India and on criminal cases filed against Israeli nationals.
The government’s unprecedented move to block the question was justified on the grounds that it ‘refers discourteously to a friendly country’, he said.
The MP expressed bewilderment, questioning whether asking about visa overstayers could be considered a discourtesy and insult to Israel. “If questions about Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants are allowed, why is Israel so special?,” he asked.
The MP further questioned whether seeking information on the number of Israelis overstaying their visas should be deemed as discourtesy.
The statement raised concerns about the possible interference in national interests, with a sarcastic reference to whether India should allow Israelis to take over and control places in Himachal Pradesh to please Modi’s alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
