“A briefing by foreign secretary on issues in India’s foreign relations — India-Canada and India-China (continued from the previous meeting),” read the notice for the post-lunch meeting. However, an Opposition member said that it was a deliberate attempt on the part of the BJP members to prolong the discussion on grants post lunch so that briefing on the two important issues could be deferred. “In the first meeting also, we raised questions on the deteriorating ties between India and Canada and why there was no joint statement by China and India to announce the border agreement. However, they said it will be briefed in the second meeting,” said the member.The ministry officials also had some other engagements, an MP said, noting that the panel’s meeting coincided with the US presidential election result in which Donald Trump stormed back to power. Some MPs said the next meeting should take place after the state elections and the by-elections to allow maximum participation as some of them may be busy campaigning. The results of the polls are scheduled for November 23.
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