India’s abstention from voting on a United Nations resolution calling for a truce in Gaza is “shocking” and shows that the country is shaping its foreign policy as “a subordinate ally of US imperialism”, the CPI and the CPI(M) said in a joint statement on Saturday.

In a separate statement, the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) also condemned the stand taken by India in the matter.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will also stage a protest at its A K G Bhavan office in Delhi on Sunday to express solidarity with Palestine.

In the joint statement titled “Stop this Genocidal Aggression in Gaza”, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his CPI counterpart, D Raja, said India’s move negates its longstanding support to the Palestinian cause.

“It is shocking that India abstained on 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 on 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 (Narendra) Modi government’s actions for consolidating the US-Israel-India nexus. This negates India’s longstanding support to the Palestinian cause,” they said.

The two Left parties said as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution, Israel stepped up its “genocidal air and ground attacks in the Gaza strip”.

It also cut off all communications in Gaza, which is home to around 2.2 million (22 lakh) Palestinians, they said and called for an immediate ceasefire.

“Respecting the overwhelming mandate of the UN General Assembly that there must be an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations must re-energise 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,” the parties said.

In its statement, the AIFB said: “India’s abstention from supporting the resolution is indicative of deviation from India’s stated policy on Palestine and excessive US servitude.” “Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly supported Israeli military operations, which was completely contrary to the positions that India has upheld till yesterday. India’s foreign policy has historically supported the Palestinian cause, which began with India voting against the United Nations resolution to create the state of Israel in 1947,” it said.

The AIFB extended support and solidarity to the people of Palestine and demanded an immediate end to Israel’s military operations that have cost thousands of lives, including those of women and children. They also demanded the release of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in violation of international norms.

“The Forward Bloc also demands an immediate end to all intrusions by the United States and its allies in the region, making the United Nations irrelevant,” it added.

The CPI-M’s decision to stage the protest on Sunday was taken in an ongoing session of its Central Committee. The three-day meeting that started on Friday is scheduled to conclude on Sunday.

Members of the party’s Central Committee and politburo will take part in the protest.

The 193 members of the UNGA, which met in a resumed 10th Emergency Special Session, voted on the draft resolution submitted by Jordan and co-sponsored by more than 40 countries, including Bangladesh, the Maldives, Pakistan, Russia and South Africa.

The resolution was adopted with 120 countries voting in its favour, 14 against it and 45 abstaining. Besides India, the countries that abstained from voting included Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Sharad Pawar, ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday alleged PM Modi “crushed” farmers while questioning his contribution towards their welfare.

“What have you (PM Modi) done for farmers? So tell me what you are doing for the farmers and how you crushed the farmers. Just asking others what did he do?” the Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief said.

“Pawar will look at what he did for farmers. It’s between Pawar and the farmers, But what did you (PM Modi) do for the farmers?” asked Uddhav Thackeray. 

“Why were the farmers in the north sitting on the road in the cold, wind and rain for a whole year? Why was the black law withdrawn after that?” he said, taking a dig at PM Modi.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibe, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that the PM should give statements keeping his constitutional stature in mind.

“Prime Minister’s post is an important post. A PM should give a statement keeping his constitutional stature in mind. I don’t know why he targeted me. But I think whatever he said is because of the fact that he was not briefed rightly. Whatever statement PM had made on me, I will respond to that keeping the importance and dignity of PM post,” Sharad Pawar said while speaking at a press briefing in Mumbai.

Mr Pawar served as the agriculture minister when the Congress-led UPA government was in office at the Centre (2004-14).

In a veiled attack on Sharad Pawar, who was the Agriculture Minister in the UPA government, PM Modi had said that while the BJP-led government was actively empowering farmers, some individuals in Maharashtra were engaged in political activities under the guise of representing farmers.

Sharad Pawar also claimed that the fear of losing power might have pushed the PM to make such comments.

“He (PM Modi) was there to seek Darshan of Sai Baba in Shirdi, what was the need to take Darshan of Sharad Pawar there? If you see the nationwide picture, there are a lot of states where the BJP is not in power or their government has come after some sabotage in other parties. And wherever there is a BJP government, they are on weak foot. This weakness and fear of losing power may have forced him (PM) to make such statements,” Mr Pawar added.

Further, the NCP supremo explained the crisis situation he faced during his 10-year tenure as the agriculture minister under the Congress regime.

“I want to make my stand clear on the statements made by PM Modi in Shirdi about my tenure as Agriculture Minister. I was Agriculture Minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. I had a crisis on the very first day of my tenure as Agri minister,” Mr Pawar said.

He further said, “I had to sign a document for import of food grains for Public distribution system if that was not done on time our PDS distribution would have been stopped. Subsequently, I decided to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of various crops, MSPs of some crops were increased manifold.”

On the upcoming state assembly elections in various states, the NCP chief said that the situation is not in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“In assembly polls, I am seeing such a picture that BJP is not getting the desired support. I have not assessed for Lok Sabha polls yet. In the five assembly elections, I am seeing a picture against BJP. I can’t say that everywhere governments will change,” he said.

Mr Pawar further accused the central government of “being completely confused” on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Palestine and Ghaza issue is such an issue that I have not seen any confusion during our previous governments. Our government took a stand on the issue but after a few days, our foreign minister took a different stand. India’s policy has always been to support Palestine and the shift in India’s policy about the Palestine and Gaza issue now is something I have not seen till now. But this government is completely confused on this issue,” he said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday lauded state police after it intercepted a vehicle and recovered 637. 28 grams of heroin in Karbi Anglong District.

The driver has been arrested, the Chief Minister informed.

“As part of our ongoing Assam Against Drugs campaign, @karbianglongpol intercepted a vehicle coming from a neighbouring State and recovered 637.28 gms of heroin contained in 50 soap boxes. Good job @assampolice,” Mr Sarma posted on X.

As part of our ongoing #AssamAgainstDrugs campaign, @karbianglongpol intercepted a vehicle coming from a neighbouring State and recovered 637.28 gms of heroin contained in 50 soap boxes.

The driver has been apprehended in this regard.

Good job @assampolice! pic.twitter.com/n25Qhc5AgP

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 28, 2023

Earlier in September, Assam Police arrested two drug peddlers and seized 575 grams of heroin in the same district.

According to police, the drug traffickers, identified as Nur Uddin and Azhar Uddin were arrested based on credible information.

Earlier on September 25, Karbi Anglong district police apprehended one person named Samsul Haque and recovered 47 soap boxes of heroin weighing 583.08 grams.

Assam police on September 23 arrested a drug peddler and seized a large quantity of contraband drugs from his possession in Cachar district, officials said.

The estimated value of the seized contraband drugs was Rs 2 crore, they said.

According to police, the accused was identified as Azad Uddin Barlaskar (31).

Cachar Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta had said that based on a tip-off, a team of police from the Cachar district carried out an operation and intercepted a vehicle at Banskandi-Silchar road.