Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPA) chairperson, protesting against Pakistan’s “unilateral” decision not to invite the Speaker of J&K Assembly for the meet.
Mahajan has asked the CPA chairperson to immediately resolve the matter and ensure invitation for J&K Speaker failing which India will boycott the conference in Islamabad.
Mahajan had earlier said that India would boycott the September 30-October 8 conference if Jammu and Kashmir Speaker Kavinder Gupta was not invited.
She further said that Pakistan has invited the speakers of the other state assemblies for the nine-day conference but not the J&K Assembly Speaker.
The 10-day meeting will be held in Islamabad from September 30.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Renewing the commitment to pluralism and inclusive democracy in the Commonwealth’.
Parliamentary delegations from more than 175 legislatures of 53 countries of the Commonwealth are scheduled to attend the conference.
During their week long stay in Islamabad, over 600 parliamentarians will discuss issues pertaining to legislative oversight, parliamentary strengthening, gender development, climate change and other issues of importance to the Commonwealth fraternity.
