Parliamentary Panel Meet: Foreign Secretary’s deposition on ties with Canada deferred

The much-awaited deposition of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on India’s relations with China and Canada before the Parliamentary Panel on External Affairs on Wednesday was deferred. The briefing could not happen due to elongated deliberations on the demands for grants of the ministry.

Several opposition MPs, who are part of the panel, cried foul, alleging that Misri’s deposition was deliberately delayed by BJP MPs.

The panel led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was scheduled to hear Misri’s deposition on diplomatic ties with China and Canada, in the context of the recent disengagement exercise and the ongoing turbulence in relations with Ottawa.

Though the Foreign Secretary was present, the much-awaited deposition could not take place as the panel took a long time in discussing the demands for grants of the External Affairs Ministry, which stretched beyond the lunch hours.