– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, October 29: The Modi government came under fire from the two main Communist parties, CPI(M) and CPI, for ‘preventing’ India from voting on a UN resolution pertaining to humanitarian aid for the besieged Gaza Strip population, who have been under constant Israeli bombing since October 7 in response to a Hamas attack inside Israel. They said the move negates India’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary CPI(M), and D. Raja, General Secretary CPI, issued a joint statement to condemn the government on the issue.
“It is shocking that India abstained from a resolution overwhelmingly adopted by the UN General Assembly calling for a humanitarian truce titled ‘Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations’ in the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza,” they said.
India’s abstention from a resolution that was overwhelmingly adopted shows the extent to which Indian foreign policy is being shaped by being a subordinate ally of US imperialism and the Modi government’s actions to consolidate the US-Israel-India nexus. This negates India’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, as they pointed out.
As the United Nations General Assembly adopted this resolution, Israel stepped up its genocidal air and ground attacks on Gaza. It has also cut off all communications in Gaza, which is home to 2.2 million Palestinians.
In the wake of the overwhelming mandate of the UN General Assembly, they said there must be an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations must reenergize itself to implement the mandate of the Security Council for a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine.
Meanwhile, the Central Committee of CPI(M) has decided to hold a dharna in solidarity with the people of Palestine, calling for an end to the genocidal aggression in Gaza.
The dharna is to be held in front of the Central Committee Office of the Party, A K Gopalan Bhawan here on October 29 from 12:00 noon onwards. It will see the participation of all members of the Central Committee.
