Uproar in Indian parliament as opposition drowns out FM's statement on Pakistan

The Indian Parliament Monday witnessed uproar by the opposition parties that drowned out External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement on her Pakistan visit.

However, the foreign minister read out her statement in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) on her visit to Islamabad and developments relating to ties between India and Pakistan, unfazed by the chaos.

In fact, the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is in a minority, has barely functioned in the last few days, with the main opposition Congress disrupting proceedings.

The Congress claims "political vendetta" after party chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul were ordered by the Delhi High Court to appear in a lower court in a corruption case.

Only eight days the Parliament's Winter Session are left and many key legislations, including the Indian government's mega reform Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST), are pending.

The Indian government has repeatedly requested the opposition parties to let the Parliament function, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "Many pro-poor steps are stuck in Parliament." Enditem