The News Freedom
New Delhi, November 9
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, on Saturday denied signing any document related to declaring the Palestinian group Hamas a terrorist organisation in India. “I did not sign any such paper and have already spoken to the Foreign Secretary to initiate an inquiry into the matter. Stringent action will be taken against those responsible for this misinformation,” Lekhi said responding to widespread reports and a circulating document claiming her involvement while addressing the press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
“You have been misinformed as I have not signed any paper with this question and this answer,” Lekhi also said on X, formerly known as Twitter, following widespread reports on social media platforms and news outlets.
The reports stemmed from a document circulating online, purportedly showing Lekhi’s response to a question by Congress MP K Sudhakaran in the Lok Sabha. Sudhakaran had inquired whether the government planned to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and if Israel had made such a request.
Union Minister Smt. @M_Lekhi addresses a press conference at party headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/3pl1LzwGKM
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 9, 2023
You have been misinformed as I have not signed any paper with this question and this answer @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia https://t.co/4xUWjROeNH
— Meenakashi Lekhi (मोदी का परिवार) (@M_Lekhi) December 8, 2023
Inquiry will reveal the culprit @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia https://t.co/XPpfrlaUQ3
— Meenakashi Lekhi (मोदी का परिवार) (@M_Lekhi) December 8, 2023
MoS MEA Lekhi @M_Lekhi on the Parliament Question issue:
-I did not sign the paper, terms it a "breach"
-Speaks to foreign secretary @AmbVMKwatra to inquire into it
-Says action should be taken against those responsible; Hopes for early action. https://t.co/tZ9hZzrQ9T pic.twitter.com/uo1cvPzlVZ— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 9, 2023