Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday came down heavily on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar over his remark on the Israel-Palestine conflict, saying the veteran leader has a “casual view” on issues relating to terror and asserted that “this rotten mindset has to stop”.
Goyal’s remarks came after Pawar, who served as India’s defence minister from 1991 to 1993 under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, said he did not believe that the Indian government had sided 100 per cent with Israel amid its war with Palestine-based terror group Hamas.
In a post on X, formerly X, the Union Minister said it is very disturbing when a senior leader like Sharad Pawar makes “preposterous” statements on India’s stand on a terror attack in Israel.
It is very disturbing when a senior leader like @PawarSpeaks ji makes preposterous statements on India’s stand on a terror attack in Israel. The menace of terrorism has to be condemned in all forms, in any part of the world. It is a pity that a person who has been India’s Defence…— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) October 18, 2023
Noting that the menace of terrorism has to be condemned in all forms, in any part of the world, Goyal said Pawar was a part of the same Government that shed tears on the Batla House encounter and slept while there were terror attacks on Indian soil.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also “deplored” Pawar’s irresponsible statement. He said that the gravity of the situation necessitates a unified front against terrorism, irrespective of political affiliations or personal opinions.
I strongly deplore the irresponsible statement made by Shri Sharad Pawar Ji, in which he questioned PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s unequivocal condemnation of the recent terror attack in Israel. India has consistently stood against all forms of terrorism, both domestically and…— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) October 18, 2023
The former Maharashtra chief minister said the Israel-Palestine issue is “serious and sensitive”, and views of Muslim countries like Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and other nations cannot be ignored.
On October 8, a day after Hamas launched its incursions, Prime Minister Modi expressed solidarity with Israel and condemned “terrorist” attacks.
“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” Modi said.
On October 10, Modi told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the people of India stand firmly with his country, expressing strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms.
The MEA has described the strikes by Hamas on Israeli cities as “terror attacks” but also reaffirmed India’s long-standing position, advocating negotiations towards establishing a “sovereign, independent and viable” state of Palestine living side-by-side at peace with Israel.
(With PTI inputs)
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