Kolkata: Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee on April 4 accused the Vajpayee
government of remaining 'silent' when people, including women and children were
falling victim in the war in Iraq by coalition forces.
Mukherjee, a CWC (Congress Working Committee) member, at an anti-war meeting
organised by his party in Kolkata, said that Vajpayee had told the Rajya Sabha in
March that war was not a solution and weapons inspectors should be given more time.
He said that the Prime Minister also told the Upper House that no country had the
right to change a regime in another country. "But all this is not reflected in the
government of India's actions."
Describing the role played by the Vajpayee government as 'most objectionable', the
senior Congress leader and former external affairs minister said that Iraq had stood
by India on the Kashmir issue by describing it as a bilateral affair between New
Delhi and Islamabad.
"But when people of Iraq including women and children are being killed by coalition
forces, India remains silent," he regretted.
Criticising the US and UK for invading Iraq, Mukherjee said that no country had the
right to change the regime in another country. Only the people had the right to
decide who would rule their country.
He said that as a member of the United Nations no country could launch a unilateral
strike against another without its specific mandate.
PTI
