Modi govt denies Rajya Sabha MP clearance to attend Venezuela anti-fascism conference; CPI(M) leader writes to EAM

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Dr V Sivadasan has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday protesting against the Ministry of External Affairs' decision, saying he was taken aback by the decision, which he called an 'attack' on his rights as a lawmaker.

New Delhi: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Dr V Sivadasan has been denied political clearance by the union government to travel to Venezuela to attend a conference of Parliamentarians against fascism organised by its National Assembly.

Sivadasan has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday protesting against the Ministry of External Affairs' decision, saying he was taken aback by the decision, which he called an “attack” on his rights as a lawmaker.

The Kerala MP told reporters that the government decision not to allow him to attend the ‘World Parliamentary Forum Against Fascism, Neo-fascism and Similar Expressions’ in Venezuela’s capital Caracas on November 4-6 once again “exposed” the RSS-BJP's "anti-democratic" traits.

He alleged that the RSS-BJP is scared of facts and wants to prevent people from talking the truth about them at the function for which the MP was extended an invitation by the Venezuelan Parliament.

He said the denial of permission comes at a time when both the countries share good relations and are part of many multilateral platforms, including the recently formed International Solar Alliance and Non-Alignment Movement (NAM).

The invite to Sivadasan said the conference would strengthen international parliamentary action to ensure that “democracy, justice and equality continue to be the fundamental values of our societies”.

“(The) Ministry of External Affairs has examined the proposal. Clearance from political angle is declined,” the MEA told Sivadasan.

In his letter to Jaishankar, Sivadasan said that the nature of the event itself indicated that it is a gathering of parliamentarians from various countries to share their views on one of the important threats in the present global political situation.

“The growth of far-right and neo-fascist parties across the world is recognised by many democracies as a threat to the social fabric. Many governments and parties (irrespective of the fact whether they are in power or not),concerned about democracy are coming together to fight this threat,” he said.

He said he wanted to join these efforts and strengthen such an initiative.

“Representing the Left political thought and the CPI(M), this was an opportunity for me to place my views on the subject and strengthen the struggle against the far-right, neo-fascist threat. Unfortunately, I was denied my right to participate in such an important event and express my views,” he said.