India takes a strong position on terrorism because it has been a “big victim” of it, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday. The Union Minister’s statement came at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led union government is facing heat from opposition over India’s move to abstain from UN voting which called for a truce but didn’t mention Hamas.
Jaishankar stressed that in today’s socio-political environment, there is a need to take a “consistent position” on terrorism.
“Today, a good government and strong governance stand up for its people. Just as good governance is necessary at home, right judgements are necessary abroad. We take a strong position on terrorism because we are big victims of terrorism. We will have no credibility if we say that when terrorism impacts us, it’s very serious; when it happens to somebody else, it’s not serious. We need to have a consistent position,” he said while speaking at a Town hall in Bhopal on Sunday.
Jaishankar also highlighted how India’s image has changed across the globe under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
“A strong government and good government are two sides of one coin. In the last few decades, India’s image in the world has changed a lot. The way we handled the pandemic when developed nations were too stressful; as some had a totally collapsed public health response. We made, ‘Made in India’…’Invent in India’ vaccine, we had a COWIN platform as well,” the EAM said.
“Similarly, when every other country looks after the welfare of its people and its economic interests, the same countries in Europe are saying don’t buy oil from Russia; they were themselves taking it and they made such a schedule that impacts their own population in the least possible way,” he added.
The Minister also talked about Indians’ data consumption habits and said, “our digital consumption of data in this country has doubled in the last 5 years. Five years ago, for the 5G either you went to Europe or China. Europe was costly and China, you very well know…”
“In the last five years, we have made our own 5G technology…Today we have fought covid, we deployed 5G; whatever has happened in last few weeks, the Chandrayan mission…it has left an impression on the entire world,” he added.
India At UNGA
India abstained from voting on the Jordanian resolution which called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists in Gaza. However, it is pertinent to note that India was in favour of the Canadian resolution which condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas.
The Jordanian-led draft resolution was adopted by the General Assembly, with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. The 45 nations that abstained from voting on the resolution included Iceland, India, Panama, Lithuania and Greece.
The resolution was adopted during the UN General Assembly’s emergency special session on the Israel-Palestine crisis. The UNGA also demanded “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave.
Notably, expressing deep concerns over the deteriorating security situation and the astounding loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, India at the UN urged both parties to “de-escalate, eschew violence.”India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Yojna Patel on Friday (local time) in her remarks at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Emergency Special Session on the Israel-Hamas war said, “India is deeply concerned at the deteriorating security situation and the astounding loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict. The escalation of hostilities in the region will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. It is necessary for all parties to display the utmost responsibility.”
Israel-Hamas War
The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Over 8,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. More than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel.
(With ANI Inputs)