New Delhi
In an editorial published in a leading daily on Monday, Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), expressed strong criticism of India’s decision to abstain from voting on a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. She underlined that the Congress party’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue has remained consistent over the years. Contrary to some insinuations, Sonia Gandhi reiterated that the position of the Indian National Congress has always been grounded in principles supporting direct negotiations for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable, and secure Palestinian state coexisting in peace with Israel. She pointed out that the Ministry of External Affairs also endorsed this position on October 12, 2023. Sonia Gandhi noted that it was significant that India’s reaffirmation of its historical stance on Palestine occurred only after Israel commenced its offensive in Gaza. She observed that the initial statement expressing solidarity with Israel by the Prime Minister did not mention Palestinian rights. The Congress leader expressed strong opposition to India’s abstention in the recent UNGA resolution, which called for an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza. She emphasized that India’s abstention was inconsistent with the country’s long-standing principles and values. Sonia Gandhi highlighted that both sides, Israel and Palestine, have advocated for dialogue as the only way forward. She lamented that influential countries have adopted a partisan stance in the conflict, instead of making every effort to bring an end to the war. She stressed that the global community should focus on achieving a cessation of military activities, as perpetuating this cycle of violence would make it challenging for the region’s residents to live in peace for a considerable time.
