Silence of the Central Government on the War Against Iran Condemnable: CPI(M)

New Delhi: The CPI(M) Politburo has said that the central government’s silence and inaction while Israel and the United States wage an illegal war against Iran is condemnable. The Politburo press release states that this stance will weaken the country’s foreign policy. It also states that the Union government is taking a position that undermines India’s long-standing anti-imperialist stance.

The war that began with the attack on Iran has spread beyond the Middle East and into our neighbouring regions. The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk by a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean. India failed to provide security for the ship, which was returning from a joint naval exercise in Visakhapatnam. After rescuing 208 crew members in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka also created conditions for the second Iranian ship, IRIS Bushehr, to anchor safely.

This situation has put India in an embarrassing position. Sri Lanka adopted a humanitarian stance in accordance with international maritime laws. However, the central government of India is behaving in a manner that undermines the country’s status as a leading nation in South Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel just before the war reflects a complete surrender of Indian policy to the United States. The image of Modi hugging Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been declared a war criminal by the International Court of Justice, exposes the Indian government’s mask of neutrality.

India is a country that has historically stood for peace and the sovereignty of nations. However, the silence of the Union government, which is not even ready to condemn the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, is shameful.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz would create significant uncertainty for India’s energy security. In this situation, the United States has granted India a 30-day grace period to purchase oil from Russia, almost like a concession. At the same time, the U.S. has indicated that India will not receive the kinds of relaxations given to China and has suggested that Indo-U.S. trade currently operates in a way that favours the United States.

The country has never faced such a major embarrassment since independence. The CPI(M) demands that Prime Minister Modi be prepared to resolve the current situation, work towards an immediate end to the war, restore the country’s pride, and ensure peace. The press release also states that the central government should focus on ensuring the safety of Indians across the Middle East.