After US lawmakers moved a bill to declare Pakistan a terrorist nation, Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday that he will submit a private members' bill as well as a resolution to declare Pakistan a terrorist nation in a "couple of days".
Chandrasekhar, an independent member of the upper house of parliament, told IANS he will submit the bill to Rajya Sabha Secretariat in a "couple of days" and has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking action in this regard.
"The bill seeks to declare Pakistan a terrorist state and break all trade, economic and other relations with it," Chandrasekhar told IANS.
The bill and resolution are titled "Pakistan State Sponsor of Terror".
"I will be submitting the bill in a couple of days. Basically, Pakistan has put itself in a position similar to North Korea by exporting terror. It should be boycotted," he said.
Chansekhar also wrote to Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday, urging him to take action.
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"As the world condemns Pakistan today, US lawmakers have also introduced a bill," Chandrasekhar wrote in the letter.
He urged the government to consider his private members' bill and resolution, and said: "It would be speedier and more efficient if the government takes the necessary executive and legislative steps to do the same."
"Pakistan currently enjoys the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status with India and also has reasonably unfettered travel and economic access," he said and urged the government to suspend these and use "economic" and "trade" tools along with diplomatic and military options to isolate Pakistan.
"The bill will be taken up in parliament in winter session, which will be in November, so I have urged government to act," he said.
Chandrasekhar also feels that there is a large consensus in the nation and parliament against Pakistan, and added that the bill will "expose" the parties which may still have a "soft corner" for the neighbouring country.
US Congressman Ted Poe (Republican), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican) on Tuesday introduced the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act.
In India, members of parliament other than ministers are called private members and bills presented or moved by them are private members' bills.
If a private member bill is passed in one of the houses, it has to go to the other house for approval, and then for President's assent. This procedure is also what is followed for the bills brought by the government.
--IANS
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