India urged to condemn Russia if it wants to be taken seriously

Published March 6, 2022
A file photo of US Representative Ted Lieu. — Reuters
A file photo of US Representative Ted Lieu. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: A senior US lawmaker has called upon India to condemn Russia if it wants to be taken seriously on the world stage.

At a recent emergency session of the UN General Assembly, 141 countries voted for a resolution condemning Russia and demanding immediate withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine. But 35 countries — including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh — abstained. Five, including Russia, voted against it.

The voting pattern came up for discussion at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee where a senior lawmaker, Ted Lieu, criticised New Delhi for abandoning democratic principles for appeasing Russia. “If India wants to be taken seriously on the world stage, if they want to be part of their family of democracies, they need to condemn Russia,” said Mr Lieu who is a co-chair of the House Committee for Democratic Policy and Communications.

“It’s not very hard to do. It’s not like we’re asking India to sanction Russia, just condemn them,” Mr Lieu added, noting that India “is a democracy that wants to be respected on the world stage” and yet it did not vote for the resolution.

“And what did they get in exchange? Russia gave India six hours to get Indian residents evacuated out of Ukraine, six hours. That’s what India got in exchange,” he said. “That’s a slap in the face to India.”

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.