CWC Resolution on Israel Conflict Leaves Many Leaders Unhappy, Invites Attack from BJP
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 10: The Congress Working Committee resolution expressing support for the Palestinian people without condemning the Hamas attack on the Israeli civilians has given an opening to the BJP to launch a scathing attack besides creating unease within the party.
Igniting a political controversy on the CWC resolution, the union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the principal Opposition party of supporting a terror organisation. “Congress is at it again! Supporting terror organisations and terrorism while innocent civilians lose their lives to bullets,” Mr Joshi said in a post on X, while sharing the CWC resolution pertaining to Israel-Hamas conflict.
The CWC, in its Monday meeting, had called for an immediate ceasefire to the hostilities while expressing support for the rights of the Palestinian people. It neither mentioned Israel nor the attack by Hamas.
The party sources said despite some members of the CWC calling for condemnation of the terror attack and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge suggesting a focus on the caste census, the committee reportedly proceeded with the resolution.
Kharge had proposed that a statement on the Middle East could be issued later if necessary, but the CWC preferred to mention the Israel – Hamas conflict as the last paragraph of the resolution.
“The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect. The CWC calls for an immediate cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict,” the CWC resolution said.
The statement, which formed the final paragraph of the resolution, has caused unease within the party. A member of the CWC expressed concern, stating that the formulation of the statement appears to condone the terrorist attack by Hamas.
Countering Mr Joshi’s attack, Congress’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi asserted that Mr Joshi would have made such allegations irrespective of the CWC’s formulation. He accused the BJP of doing politics over the situation instead of being worried about the safety of Indians caught in Israel and Gaza. “He has a script in his mind. Whatever we would have said, Pralhad Joshi would have said the same thing,” Mr Gogoi said, adding there was no divide within the party.
However, opinion was divided in the closed-door meeting. While senior leader from Kerala Ramesh Chennithala wanted the party to highlight its support for the Palestinian cause, a few others privately expressed surprise that the resolution did not “condemn” outright the Hamas, designated as a terrorist organisation by several countries.
“By not expressly condemning Hamas, what message are we sending to the international community?” asked a senior Congress leader. Asked to explain the absence of Hamas in the CWC resolution, Mr Gogoi said, “Jairam Ramesh ji had tweeted on that. Our statement is clear”.
On Sunday, Mr Ramesh, in a post on X, said, “The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people.”
“It is an absurd formulation. It is as if we are condoning the terrorist attack by Hamas. As if we are endorsing terrorism. There will be a backlash,” a CWC member had said. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the terrorist attacks in Israel. Although he did not specifically name Hamas, but his message on X was clear.
“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,” PM Modi had said.
In response to Chennithala’s intervention, a few lines were promptly added to the resolution. However, they had no mention of Hamas or the word “terrorism.”
During the CWC meeting, several members, including Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Kumar Bansal, pointed out that the formulation read out did not mention Hamas or the word terrorism.
Around half of the estimated 40 members argued that the party should condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, considering its historical position against terrorism. To the surprise of many leaders, the paragraph on support to the Palestinian cause was included in the CWC resolution that was subsequently released to the media, leaving many leaders unhappy.
