Sonia Gandhi hit out at the government for not allowing a discussion on the India-China border issue in Parliament

New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the government for not allowing a discussion on the India-China border issue in Parliament, saying silence on matters of serious concern has become its defining feature.

Addressing party MPs at the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the central hall of Parliament, she said when facing a significant national challenge, it has been the tradition in our country to bring Parliament into confidence.

A debate can shed



light on several critical questions, she said.  "Why is China emboldened to continually attack us? What preparations have been made to repel these attacks, and what more needs to be done? What is the Government's policy to deter China from future incursions?  Given that we continue to have a severe trade deficit with China, importing far more than we export, why is there no economic response to China's military hostility? What is the government's diplomatic outreach to the global community," she asked.