MEA clarifies technical correction needed after Lekhi denies responding to Hamas query in Lok Sabha
New Delhi, December 09: The external affairs ministry issued a clarification on Saturday, stating that Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi did not respond to a parliamentary query regarding the designation of Gaza-based Hamas as a terrorist organization in India. The clarification came after documents on official websites indicated that Lekhi had provided a reply to the question. Lekhi, however, asserted in a social media post that she had not signed any document related to the question and answer.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi later clarified that there was a "technical correction" needed in the documents, and Minister of State V Muraleedharan should have been listed as the official responding to the parliamentary question. Bagchi mentioned that the correction is being undertaken without providing details on how the error occurred.
The parliamentary question was raised by Congress party lawmaker Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, who inquired whether the government had any plans to declare Hamas a terrorist organization in India and if there were any demands from the Israeli government in this regard.
The written reply in the documents stated, "Designation of an organization as terrorist is covered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and declaring any organization as a terrorist is considered as per the provisions of the Act by the relevant government departments."
Following terror attacks carried out by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and many injured, the Israeli government has requested India to outlaw Hamas. India condemned both the terror attacks and civilian casualties resulting from Israeli actions in Gaza. India has called for a return to dialogue for lasting peace, emphasizing a two-state solution.
- With inputs from agencies
