New Delhi: The Congress hit out at the Modi government Saturday for abstaining from voting on a UN resolution calling for an ‘immediate truce’ in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Taking to X, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that she was “shocked and ashamed” at the government’s decision, calling it an “eye for an eye”. K.C. Venugopal, Congress general secretary (organisation), too, commented on the issue saying that those who choose to be neutral in situations of injustice have chosen the side of the oppressor.
Priyanka, in her post, wrote: “I am shocked and ashamed that our country has abstained from voting for a ceasefire in Gaza. Our country was founded on the principles of non-violence and truth, principles for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives, these principles form the basis of the constitution that defines our nationhood.”
“They represent the moral courage of India that guided its actions as a member of the international community. To refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity is pulverised, food, water, medical supplies, communication and power is cut off to millions of people and thousands of men, women and children in Palestine are being annihilated goes against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation,” she added.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said that it was India’s “moral duty” to support a ceasefire.
“When the innocent citizens of Gaza are being pounded with air strikes and ground invasions, it was India’s moral duty to support a ceasefire. Only a heartless and fascist regime would abstain. Truly ashamed of our vote at the UN,” said Venugopal on X.
India abstained from voting on a resolution at the 10th Emergency session of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly in New York Friday as the resolution did not condemn the Palestinian militant outfit Hamas or its attack on Israel on 7 October.
On its part, the Congress has been going back and forth on its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In its first statement after the Hamas attack on Israel, the party had condemned the “brutal attack” on the people of Israel while at the same time upholding the Palestinians right to a life of dignity.
Thereafter, a resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) refused to mention Israel at all while only talking about the Congress’ historic support to the Palestinian people.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge then made another statement last week condemning the attack on Israel as well as the situation in Gaza.
Also read: How CWC was split on removal of 50% reservation cap — Manish Tewari vs Hariprasad, Singhvi, Baghel