On June 12, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution received overwhelming support, with 149 countries voting in favor, 12 against, and 19 abstentions—including India. The Indian National Congress has strongly criticized the government’s decision to abstain, viewing it as a significant departure from India’s historical stance on peace and justice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described the abstention as evidence that India’s foreign policy is “in shambles,” urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar accountable for what he termed “repeated blunders. “India’s recent abstention from a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza has drawn significant criticism from the Indian National Congress. The resolution, introduced by Spain, was adopted on June 12, 2025, with overwhelming support: 149 countries voted in favor, 12 against, and 19 abstained, including India. Congress’s Critique: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President, remarked that India’s abstention signifies a departure from its longstanding commitment to peace and justice. He questioned whether India has abandoned its consistent stand advocating for ceasefire, peace, and dialogue in the Middle East and West Asia. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress MP from Wayanad, described the government’s decision as “shameful and disappointing,” stating that it represents a tragic reversal of India’s anti-colonial legacy. She emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that over 60,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed.K.C. Venugopal, AICC General Secretary, highlighted that India stands alone as the only country in South Asia, BRICS, and SCO to abstain on the UNGA resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. He questioned what had changed in the last six months that led India from supporting a ceasefire to abstaining from the vote. Pawan Khera, Congress’s media and publicity department chairman, labeled India’s UN abstention as “an act of staggering moral cowardice,” asserting that it betrays India’s anti-colonial legacy and the values of its freedom struggle. Government’s Position: India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, explained that the abstention aligns with India’s belief that durable peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy. He emphasized the need for the protection of civilians, adherence to humanitarian obligations, and timely delivery of aid to Gaza.Contextual Note:This abstention marks a shift from India’s previous stance. In December 2024, India voted in favor of a UNGA resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The Congress party’s criticism underscores concerns about India’s evolving foreign policy and its implications for the nation’s historical commitment to peace and justice on the global stage.
Congress slams govt for abstaining on UN Gaza ceasefire vote
