India decided to boycott the 61st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which is scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan from 30 September to 8 October 2015.
The unanimous decision to boycott the meeting was taken after the conclusion of the meeting of the Speakers of all State Legislative Assemblies that was called in New Delhi.
The meeting was called to discuss the Pakistan’s deliberate decision to not invite the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Kavinder Gupta.
Reason behind the decision
Violation of the Constitution of CPA by Pakistan
India protested the unilateral decision of Pakistan saying that by not inviting J&K speaker, it is violating the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) constitution and was against the guiding principles of the Commonwealth of promotion of international understanding, world peace and democratic governance.
About Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) with its Secretariat in London was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association.
- The original member Branches were Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
- In 1948, with the evolution of Commonwealth, the name was changed to CPA and the rules were changed to enable all member Branches to participate in the Association’s management, and established a separate Secretariat to manage its affairs.
- The CPA in 1989 created the constitutional posts of Patron and Vice-Patron. H.M. Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of the Commonwealth consented to become Patron. The Vice-Patron is normally the Head of State or Government of the Branch hosting the coming plenary conference.
- Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the first woman Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament for the second time, is the current Chairperson of the CPA.
