The Bharatiya Janata Party has unequivocally condemned Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar’s remarks where he suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict betrayed India’s long-held position on the contentious matter. Addressing party workers on Sunday, Pawar had said that India has always supported the cause of Palestine.

Reacting strongly to Pawar’s remarks, BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that while India has never changed its stand on the Israel-Palestine dispute, it has always strongly opposed terrorism in all forms and against anyone.

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“When the entire world has condemned the killing of innocent people in Israel & India did the same, Shri Sharad Pawar ji should also speak in the same language against terrorism. Mumbai has suffered a lot due to the terror attacks. Especially during 26/11, Mumbai had lost many citizens. My request to Sharad Pawar ji, is to not think about vote bank politics, but to strongly condemn terrorism,” Fadnavis tweeted on X.

In his address to party workers, Pawar had also claimed that Israel was an “outsider” that “encroached” on Palestine’s land. He also noted how former PMs, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had supported the Palestinian cause.

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Pawar also sought to suggest that the Prime Minister’s remarks on the Hamas-Israel war seemed to convey a different position from the one articulated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the Prime Minister tweeted on October 6, thanking his Israel counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for apprising him of the developments post the attack by Hamas.

Pawar’s statement also came in for criticism from Union minister Nitin Gadkari. “I strongly deplore the irresponsible statement made by Sharad Pawar Ji, in which he questioned PM Narendra Modi Ji’s unequivocal condemnation of the recent terror attack in Israel. India has consistently stood against all forms of terrorism, both domestically and internationally. PM Modi Ji’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Israel is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to global peace and security,” he tweeted.

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Gadkari further said that it was important for senior leaders like Gadkari to ensure that political considerations do not take precedence over issues of national interest and security.

“National security is a paramount concern, and there should be unity and consensus when it comes to safeguarding the well-being of our nation. The gravity of the situation necessitates a unified front against terrorism, irrespective of political affiliations or personal opinions,” Gadkari said.

The commesnts also drew criticism from Gadkari’s cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal who said that terrorism must be condemned in all forms. “It is very disturbing when a senior leader like Sharad Pawar makes preposterous statements on India’s stand on a terror attack in Israel. The menace of terrorism has to be condemned in all forms, in any part of the world. It is a pity that a person who has been India’s Defence Minister as well as a Chief Minister many times has such a casual view of issues relating to terror. This rotten mindset has to stop. I hope Pawar ji at least now, thinks of the nation first,” Goyal tweeted.