Asaduddin Owaisi raises security issues

HYDERABAD: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha demanding a discussion on the Indo-US 2+2 meeting scheduled to be held on September 6 in New Delhi. 

Mr Owaisi has demanded adjournment of the business meet and a discussion on a definite matter of urgent importance. However, the Lok Sabha Speaker has rejected the adjournment motion moved by Owaisi.

In the adjournment notice, Mr Owaisi said that India was on the verge of hastily signing a communications compatibility and security agreement with the United States during the 2+2 meeting to be held on September 6 in the national capital. 

Mr Owaisi said, “The ostensible objective of the agreement is to increase interoperability between the armed forces and allow the US to transfer communication security equipment to India.” 

He said, however, the fine print reveals that the government was willingly relinquishing sovereignty to a foreign nation and compromising national security. 

In the adjournment notice given to the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha Owaisi said, “The agreement allows unfettered American access into encrypted Indian military communication systems and sharing of that data with others, moreover, it allows US inspectors to visit Indian bases physically and inspect the sovereignty.”

He added that it has to be noted that previous governments in the last fifteen years have refrained from signing this agreement, being aware of its implications. He said that this government had decided to sign such an agreement with massive national security and sovereignty issues without any public discussion or feedback and that was shocking. He said that this deal needed greater security and deserves to be discussed on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

He further said that by sealing the deal with the Trump administration, the government will breach Indian laws and will also give US military access to Indian military communication systems and its data.

The meeting will take place between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with their American counterparts US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis.