Opposition parties in the Indian Parliament are pressing for a debate on the West Asian crisis, especially on violence in Gaza. The government is anxious to scuttle it. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has expressed the view that any offensive remark will undermine India’s diplomatic relations with either Israel or Palestine. Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari has overruled her objection as the debate does not call for a voting. The discussion has been shifted from Wednesday to Monday. The opposition has been agitating and the House has been adjourned twice.
The government’s reluctance to have a debate is inexplicable but its willingness not to take sides is understandable. India certainly wishes to strengthen ties with both Israel and Palestine. Parliament is divided. Some are all for India’s long friendship with Palestine since the days of Arafat. But India is now increasing cooperation with Israel in defence, agriculture, Intelligence and so on. It was the Congress government which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1992. But the BJP government seems even more eager to have closer relations with Tel Aviv. It has been argued by Opposition MPs that debates had been held in Parliament on the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Iraq war. Why this exception? And why should it not be held in the Lok Sabha as well? A parliamentary debate does not necessarily harm a diplomatic relationship. India may have no real role to play in the hostilities between Israel and the Hamas. But there is no reason why an airing of views in Parliament should be avoided.
