New Delhi, Dec 16 (UNI) The Congress on Monday staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha, saying that Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was not given enough time to speak on Vijay Diwas during Zero Hour.
When presiding officer Sandhya Ray called Priyanka Gandhi, she raised the issue of atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh and the removal of picture of Pakistani soldiers surrendering in front of the Indian Army during the 1971 Bangladesh war from the Army Headquarters.
In the meantime, the Chair called the other name, to which the Congress members stood up from their seats and raised objection and asked the Chair to allow Priyanka to complete the issue she was raising.
During the Zero Hour, Priyanka said, “I thank the people of the country who stood with the soldiers and the leadership at that time. India was standing all alone in the world. No one came in support our country. No one was listening to the voice of our Bengali brothers and sisters of Bangladesh. I bow to Indira Gandhi who was the Prime Minister of the country and under whose leadership we won this war.’
She further said that on the occasion, “I want to raise two issues. The fight was of principle. The first issue is the atrocities being committed on minority communities, the government should raise the issue of atrocities being committed on Hindus and Christians in Bangladesh. The government should talk with the Bangladesh government.’
In her second issue, she said, “The photo showing Pakistan Army surrendering in front of the Indian Army has been removed from the Army headquarters.’
When the presiding called the name of the other member stating that the time was over, the Congress and DMK members opposed and walked out of the House raising slogans ‘shaheedon ka apmaan nahi sahenge.’
Earlier, Congress member Manickam Tagore had moved an adjournment motion to discuss the removal of iconic 1971 war photograph from its prominent position in the Army headquarters in New Delhi.
