Oppn MPs ask Modi to answer queries on Wuhan talks

Members of the Lok Sabha on Wednesday suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond to questions on his summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj dismissed the suggestion made by Trinamool Congress leader Sugata Bose, saying that she was capable of responding to questions raised by members.

Modi was present in the Lok Sabha when the House took up the question on his informal summit with Xi at Wuhan during Question Hour, but he let Sushma do the talking.

Bose said he had originally put the question to the prime minister but was advised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to address the queries to the external affairs minister.

"May I welcome back the prime minister, who has returned from the BRICS summit after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, by a simple 'namaskar' from a respectable distance," Bose said, leading to laughter from Opposition members.

The Congress and Trinamool members also mentioned a parliamentary convention wherein the prime minister makes a statement in Parliament after significant foreign visits.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was also heard saying that since Modi was present in the House, he should speak on the issue.

Bose pointed out that since Sushma was not present at the Wuhan summit, Modi would be in a better position to respond to questions on his meeting with Xi.

"I am fully capable of answering all the questions, irrespective of me being present there or not. I am fully aware of what was happening there as I was involved in the planning for the Summit," Sushma asserted.