NEW DELHI, 9 April 2003 — The lower house of Indian Parliament yesterday deplored the US-led war on Iraq after two days of bitter wrangling over the wording of the resolution.
“Expressing sentiments of the country, this house deplores the military action against the sovereign state of Iraq by the coalition forces led by America. This military action aimed at changing of power in Iraq is not acceptable,” said the consensus resolution finalized after two all-party meetings with Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi.
Last month, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee convened all-party meetings twice to discuss India’s stand on the situation in Iraq. Differences between the government and opposition over the usage of words prevented adoption of a joint resolution.
The resolution also named the US, in a clear climbdown by the government, and called for an immediate end to the war and withdrawal of the coalition forces from Iraq.
“The house also demands the UN ensures that the sovereignty of Iraq will be maintained and the reconstruction work will be under UN supervision,” the resolution said.
“The sufferings of innocent people of Iraq, particularly women and children, are serious humanitarian matters. This action has been carried out without the permission of the UN and against the UN charter. This house, therefore, expresses deep anguish and deep sympathy to the people of Iraq,” the resolution said.
The house expressed satisfaction that India had decided to give (1 billion rupees) and 50,000 tons of wheat as appealed by the UN for Iraq. The house expected more assistance to be given “if need arises.”
However, the Hindi language used in the resolution left it open to interpretation. The government insisted the war had been deplored while opposition maintained it had been condemned.
Since Monday, when the Lok Sabha resumed its session after a three-week recess, the opposition had been insisting the US invasion be condemned. The government was willing to only deplore the action.
Speaking during the debate on the resolution, Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy said the goodwill and sympathy that the US had gained after 9/11 had been transformed into universal ill-will and antipathy. “The US is becoming disturbingly imperialistic. It behaves like a hyper power.”
Somnath Chatterjee of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said it was unfortunate some countries had taken on the role of supervising other nations.
“The right of pre-emptive strike is being propagated which is very dangerous,” Chatterjee warned.
Meanwhile, about 5,700 Indians have returned from Kuwait amid the war, the Parliament was informed yesterday.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shripad Yesso Naik said the government had not felt the need to conduct any evacuation of Indian citizens from Iraq and its neighborhood so far.
“However, during the period between March 18 and 31, a total of 5,705 passengers have been carried on Indian Airlines and Air-India on scheduled and special commercial flights from Kuwait on payment of normal fares,” he said.
The government says there has been no dramatic rise in incoming Indians since the US launched its military offensive against Iraq on March 20 as there was hardly any panic in Kuwait or neighboring areas.
