The Congress on Thursday decided to move a privilege motion against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha for allegedly misleading the House about the killing of 39 Indians by the Islamic State group in Iraq.
Congress MPs Ambika Soni, Pratap Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo told reporters that they would move the motion against Swaraj after compiling documents and information on the matter, PTI reported. “The minister’s statement in the House was an assurance [that the Indian citizens were alive],” Soni said. “Our sources have proved right and her confidential sources have proved wrong.”
The three MPs said Swaraj should make public the sources who told her that the Indians were alive.
Soni accused the Centre of trying to suppress the news of the murders despite Congress’ efforts to raise the matter repeatedly. “The government’s efforts to put a cover on the issue led to misconceptions among the families of the deceased,” Soni said. The Rajya Sabha MP added that the Narendra Modi-led government should have gradually prepared the victims’ families to bear their loss.
Bajwa brushed aside Swaraj’s claim that the government had an obligation to inform Parliament about the deaths before telling their families. He said Parliament needs to be informed first about sensitive policy matters if it is in session, but the death of a person has to be conveyed to their kin first.
Bajwa also criticised Modi and Swaraj for not announcing compensation for the victims’ families. “We have demanded Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job to each of the families,” he added.
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