NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent on the ongoing Gaza war, calling it extreme “moral cowardice.”In a post on X, Ramesh said, “The PM has maintained a complete silence on the horrific atrocities that have led to the killing of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza. This is extreme moral cowardice and a total betrayal of all that India has stood for.”Ramesh alleged that to appease President Donald Trump and in solidarity with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, PM Modi has welcomed Trump’s new 20-point plan for Gaza, while fundamental and disturbing questions about the plan remain.
.
He also raised four fundamental questions on the US-led initiative:
- Where are the people of Gaza themselves in the system of governance proposed?
- Where is the roadmap for a full-fledged Palestinian state to come into being?
- How much longer will the US and Israel continue to ignore
Palestinian statehood – which has already been recognised by 157 member-countries of the UN with India having led the way in Nov 1988? - Where is the accountability for the genocide that has been carried out in Gaza over the past twenty months?
Congress backs Ramesh, calls for Palestinian statehood
Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera supported Jairam Ramesh’s criticism. In a post on X, he wrote that “any plan that undermines the agency of the long-oppressed Palestinian people and fails to ensure accountability for the genocide they have endured since 2023 is deserving of contempt and condemnation.”
.
Khera added that “true justice can be restored only through the establishment of the Palestinian state” and warned that “everything else is a mere smokescreen to perpetuate the occupation.”
PM Modi welcomes Trump’s Gaza plan:
On Tuesday, PM Modi welcomed President Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.In a post on X, he wrote: “We welcome President Donald J Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region.”
.
The prime minister expressed hope that “all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.”
Trump-Netanyahu 20-point plan:
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the plan on Monday. The 20-point proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, protection of civilians on both sides and stronger regional cooperation with international monitoring to ensure compliance. It is unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms.Trump described it as a detailed step-by-step framework aimed at ending the conflict and restoring stability. India was one of the first countries to recognise a Palestinian state in 1988 and also supported a two-state solution at the UN.Since the nearly three-year war began, over 65,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.