JD(U) asks Modi govt to stop arms supply to Israel

New Delhi, NT Bureau: Janata Dal (United) General Secretary KC Tyagi on Sunday aligned with Opposition leaders in calling on the Centre to stop supplying arms and ammunition to Israel during its ongoing war with Gaza.

The Janata Dal (United) is a key ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and a member of the National Democratic Alliance government. Tyagi, along with other Opposition leaders, met Mohammed Makram Balawi, Secretary General of the League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds, in Delhi on Sunday.

The League is an independent body that coordinates global parliamentary efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, in line with United Nations resolutions, and advocates for peace in West Asia.

The meeting was coorganized by Tyagi and Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan, according to The Indian Express. Tyagi told The Indian Express that the Janata Dal (United) has backed the Palestinian cause since its inception.

“The Indian government, including that of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also has lent support to the Palestinian cause,” he was quoted as saying .

“We want the killing of elderly, women and children to stop in Gaza and also want UN resolutions regarding Israel and Palestine to be respected.” Tyagi and the Opposition leaders released a statement after the meeting, urging the Union government not to supply arms to Israel.

In February, reports claimed that Delhi was supplying Israel with drones manufactured in Hyderabad.

This was part of a joint venture between Israel’s Elbit Systems and Gautam Adani’s Adani Group. In May, Spain had denied permission to an Israelbound ship carrying arms from Chennai to stop over at the Cartagena port in the country's southeast.