Shocked and ashamed that India abstained from voting for ceasefire in Gaza, says Priyanka Gandhi; BJP hits back

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 28

Slamming the BJP government at the Centre for abstaining from voting in the UN for a truce in Gaza, Congress on Saturday said the stand went "against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation".

"I am shocked and ashamed that our country has abstained from voting for a ceasefire in Gaza," Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said in a statement posted on X.

Gandhi wrote that India was founded on the principles of non-violence and truth for which 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,” the Congress leader said.

Gandhi said that to refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity was being pulverised, food, water, medical supplies, communication and power cut off to millions of people and thousands of men, women and children in Palestine annihilated, went against everything India stood for.

Gandhi cited Mahatma Gandhi saying ‘an eye for an eye makes everyone blind’ to remind the warring parties of the dangers of retribution.

BJP hits back 

Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi’s response, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said those who are “ashamed and shocked” must realise that India will never be on the side of terrorism.

“India’s Explanation of Vote – spelt this out categorically. Our position on the Israel – Palestine issue is steadfast and consistent. Those who choose to side with terror do so at their own peril...,” the former minority affairs minister said on X.

“On a lighter note, Priyanka Ji, you should first educate yourself on things that are put out from your X account. Looks like people, who have no idea of Congress’s past positions on the situation, are advising you,” he said.

“What is worse is that in an attempt to make you look ‘better’ than Rahul, they are making you look silly,” Naqvi added.

The CPI(M) and the CPI said in a joint statement that India abstaining from voting on a United Nations resolution calling for a truce in Gaza is “shocking” and shows that Indian foreign policy is now shaped by “being a subordinate ally of US imperialism”.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI General Secretary D Raja said in the statement—titled ‘Stop this Genocidal Aggression in Gaza’—that India’s move negates its long-standing support to the Palestinian cause. —with PTI

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