Stop funding Israel's war on Palestine, CPI-M tells Modi government

Kolkata: Attacking the Narendra Modi government's foreign policy, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury Monday urged India not to get swayed by US considerations in formulating its policies as regards to China or funding Israel's war on Palestinians by buying weapons from them.

Delivering a lecture on "100 Years of the First World War", he blamed the US for the conflict in the Middle East.

"The US wants all its friendly countries to a play a role in containing China whom it doesn't want to see as emerging into a global player. The only power that can come close to US is China, its containment is an essential element of US' strategy and India should not be part of that," he said while delivering the first Satyendranath Majumdar Memorial Lecture here.

"Already many chinks are appearing in India's foreign policies. Be it our relation with Israel or inviting US President Barrack Obama for the Republic Day function, there are certain indications which are disturbing. So we want that India should not get swayed by the US's considerations and its strategy of trying to contain China," he said.

Blaming the US quest for world hegemony behind the conflicts in Middle East, the Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member requested India to suspend, if not stop, purchasing Israeli weapons.

"Unfortunately, India has been financing Israel's inhuman war on Palestine by being the largest purchaser of Israeli weapons in the world. That is why we urge the government, if not stop, then at least, it can suspend the purchase of weapons to express our solidarity with Palestine," he said.

"The government has now clarified that there is no change in India's support to Palestine cause, but what the use if you continue to buy the weapons and finance its (Israel) war," added Yechury.