MEA blocks CPM MP Sivadasan from attending Venezuela event despite MHA nod

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied CPI(M)’s Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan permission to attend a government event in Venezuela even though the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) gave its go-ahead.

As many as 300 parliamentarians from across the world are expected to join the World Parliamentary Forum Against Fascism organized by the Venezuelan government on November 4–5 in Caracas.

The MHA gave its nod for Sivadasan to attend the event after the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance. According to the MP from Kerala, the MEA’s letter says “clearance from the political angle is declined”.

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Sivadasan writes to Jaishankar

The MP has now written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying the denial of permission was an attack on his rights.

He also pointed out that India and Venezuela share friendly relations and are part of several multi-lateral platforms, including the International Solar Alliance, formed at India’s initiative, as well as the Non-Aligned Movement.

The fascist threat

Sivadasan also argued that the event is essentially a gathering of parliamentarians, invited by the Venezuelan government to share their views on a key threat in global politics — fascism.

“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, concerned about democracy, are coming together to fight this threat,” he wrote.

“I wanted to join these efforts and strengthen such an initiative. Representing the Left political thought and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) this was an opportunity for me to place my views on the subject and strengthen the struggle against the far-right, neo-fascist threat,” he added.

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Party’s statement

The CPI(M) politburo has released a statement condemning the Centre’s decision to deny political clearance to Sivadasan. “This is an attempt to stifle any voice that does not conform with the ruling party’s views,” it read.

The party says it received an invitation from the National Assembly of Venezuela to nominate its parliament members to participate in the event, and Sivadasan was nominated to represent it.

“It is highly deplorable that in spite of getting the FCRA clearance, the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance to Sivadasan, thus infringing his rights as a Member of Parliament. The government is following a policy of political discrimination, where differing voices are prevented from expressing their views. This should be a matter of concern for all opposition parties and their members of Parliament,” the statement says.

Venezuela’s letter

Pedro Infante, the Vice President of Venezuela, sent an invitation letter to the MEA last month, in which he thanked the Indian government for allowing V Sivadasan to travel for the event. Venezuela’s Executive Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez was on a visit to India in the last week of October.