G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)?
• Background: European Parliament’s resolution on the Manipur issue
• News Summary: G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit
• Key highlights

Why in news?

• The Ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20 Summit) was hosted by Parliament of India in cooperation with IPU on 13-14 October 2023 in New Delhi.
  • The P20 Summit was established in Canada in 2010.
  • It aims to strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective.
• During the summit, India registered its protest on the European Parliament’s recent move to bring a resolution on the Manipur issue.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

• About
  • The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
  • It began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians. It has since grown into a truly global organization with 179 Members and 14 Associate Members.
• Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Slogan: For democracy. For everyone.
• IPU's goals
  • Promoting representative democracy and world peace
  • Encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations
  • Contributing to better knowledge of the working of representative institutions
  • Strengthening and developing the means of action of representative institutions
  • Empowering parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development

Background: European Parliament’s resolution on the Manipur issue

• In July 2023, the European Parliament adopted a motion urging the Indian government to promptly halt the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur, and protect its religious minorities.
• The legislative body of the European Union also denounced in the strongest terms nationalistic rhetoric deployed by leading members of a national party currently in the government.
• Key highlights of the resolution
  • Protect all religious minorities
    • The final EP resolution asks the government to protect all religious minorities, such as Manipur’s Christian community, and to pre-empt any further escalation.
  • Unhindered access to the area
    • It also calls on authorities to grant unhindered access to the area by journalists and international observers and to end internet shutdowns.
  • Repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in line with the recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
  • It called on E.U. to make human rights prominent in its dialogue and relationship with India.
• Response of Indian Government
  • The move was rejected by India as unacceptable and a reflection of colonial mindset. India had said that it has been made clear to EU parliamentarians concerned that it is a matter absolutely internal to India.

News Summary: G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit

• The 9th P20 Summit was held in New Delhi. It was hosted by the Parliament of India under the framework of India's G20 Presidency.
• The theme of the summit was "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future".

Key highlights

• India registered its protest
  • On the European Parliament’s recent move to bring a resolution on the Manipur issue.
    • India insisted that every nation and parliament is sovereign and their internal issues should not be discussed by other
  • Lok Sabha Speaker brought up the issue during a bilateral meeting with European Union Vice-President on the sidelines.
• Operation Dost as a symbol of India’s friendship towards Turkey
  • During his talks with his Turkish counterpart, Lok Sabha Speaker mentioned Operation Dost as a symbol of India’s friendship towards Turkey.
  • Operation Dost was a search and rescue operation initiated by the Government of India to aid Syria and Turkey after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.
• Unanimously adopts Joint Statement
  • The participating Presiding Officers unanimously adopted a Joint Statement under the Chairmanship of Lok Sabha Speaker.

Q1) What is European Parliament?

The European Parliament (EP) is one of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU). It's the EU's law-making body.

Q2) What is 2023 Manipur violence?

The 2023 Manipur violence was a series of protests and violent clashes in the Indian state of Manipur. The violence began on May 3 in Churachandpur, a town south of the state capital Imphal. The violence was caused by ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo people. The Meitei are predominantly Hindu, while the Kuki are predominantly Christian.

Source: P20 Summit: India protests EU Manipur resolution | Inter Parliamentary Union | PIB | G20