DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Sunday criticised the Union Government’s silence on the Palestine issue, accusing the Centre of abandoning its long-standing stance in favour of diplomatic alignment with Israel.
Speaking to media, Elangovan said: “The Indian Government has supported Palestine earlier and approved it, now they are silent. The policy of the government should be the same, but now they want Israel’s support, so they are supporting Israel. Earlier, they said that they approve of Palestine as a separate nation; now, they are silent on this issue, which is wrong.”
His remarks come amid India’s recent abstention at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) vote on a resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution was supported by 149 countries, while India was among the 19 nations that abstained. Twelve countries, including the US and Israel, voted against it.
Meanwhile, West Asia remains tense following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow over the weekend. The strikes, dubbed as “precision” attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and backed by the US Air Force, targeted Iran’s main uranium enrichment facilities.
A CNN report said the US deployed six B-2 bombers equipped with GBU-57 A/B bunker buster bombs, delivering a massive payload on Fordow. President Donald Trump later warned that further action would follow if Tehran does not agree to a “satisfactory peace settlement.”
Amid these developments, India’s Representative Office in Ramallah issued an advisory urging Indian nationals in Palestine to remain alert and follow local safety instructions. The advisory stated:
“In view of the current situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Palestine are requested to remain vigilant and observe locally advised safety and emergency procedures. Please exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement. In case of an emergency, please contact us at +970592916418 or cons.ramallah@mea.gov.in,” the office posted on X.
The tension in the region has raised fears of further escalation, with Israel justifying its strikes as necessary to damage Iran’s nuclear programme and in response to Iranian missile attacks on Israeli territory.
Elangovan’s criticism reflects the discomfort among some political parties in India over the government’s perceived policy shift, moving away from India’s traditional pro-Palestine stance towards closer alignment with Israel and its Western allies.
The Centre has not yet officially responded to Elangovan’s remarks.