Mumbai Oct 19: In a bold move, veteran Congress leader and former Maharashtra Minister Naseem Khan, currently serving as the Working President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has called on the Indian government to promptly suspend bilateral trade with Israel. Khan addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the urgency of the matter and invoking India’s historical ties with Palestine.
The plea comes on the heels of the tragic Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a substantial loss of lives. Khan, in his letter, highlighted the devastating toll of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with over 3,000 casualties and 10,000 injuries reported.
Referring to India’s longstanding solidarity with Palestine, Khan invoked the memories of leaders such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Dr. Manmohan Singh, all of whom maintained strong relations with Palestine.
Expressing deep condemnation for Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, particularly with banned bombs, Khan urged the Indian government to halt all bilateral trade with Israel. He asserted that such a move would align with the sentiments of millions of peace-loving Indians.
Citing the United Nations’ concerns about the shortage of essential supplies in the Gaza Strip, Khan called upon India to extend support during this critical time, considering the historic relationship between the two nations.
This appeal underscores the mounting global concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and seeks India’s intervention on moral and historical grounds.
