The Israeli attack on Palestinians in the Gaza strip generated much heat in the Lok Sabha today with Opposition members demanding that India should immediately condemn the assault.
"Government of India should respond," shouted agitated members of Left parties, Congress, Trinamool Congress, IUML and AIMIM, who trooped into the Well asking the government to make a statement and condemn the attacks.
Rahul Gandhi too was seen in the aisle along with some of his Congress colleagues.
PDP member Mehbooba Mufti, who had given a notice for adjournment motion on the issue, was allowed to raise the matter during Zero Hour.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, however, disapproved of her action of showing placards observing that no member should resort to such action in the House.
"World leaders are meeting in Brazil and they include Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They should pass a resolution seeking immediate ceasefire in the one-sided attack on the Gaza strip," Mehbooba said.
The attacks are "one-sided because the casualties are only on the Palestinian side" she said, adding that among the 186 persons killed so far, there are several women and children.
Noting that India has been an age-old friend of Palestine, she recalled that Yasser Arafat used to call Indira Gandhi as his sister as "she stood throughout for the Palestinian cause."
Noting that hundreds of students in Jammu and Kashmir were on the streets protesting these attacks, Mehbooba wanted the House to unanimously express concern over the violence.
The Speaker also over-ruled the demands for a statement from the government, saying it was not possible to ask the government to react on every issue.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was present in the House.
As slogan-shouting by members in the Well continued, Mahajan adjourned the House for 30 minutes.
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