Congress MP Manish Tewari has said that India should unequivocally condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine in unambiguous terms. There comes a time when you need to tell ‘friends’ they can’t indulge in Regime change.

NEW DELHI — After India decided to abstain on the UNSC resolution against Russia, Congress leader Manish Tewari has criticised the move and said India should have voted for Ukraine.

“There comes a time when nations need to stand-up and not stand aside. I sincerely wish India had voted in solidarity with people of Ukraine at UNSC who are facing an unprecedented & unjustified aggression. Friends need to be told when they are wrong.”

He added that a New Iron Curtain has descended over the world. India will have to pick sides. It no longer has the luxury of sitting on top of the Iron Curtain because India gradually gutted Non-Alignment going all the way back to 1991.”

Tewari has said that India should unequivocally condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine in unambiguous terms. There comes a time when you need to tell ‘friends’ they can’t indulge in Regime change. India’s conduct of international relations should be characterised by calling a spade a spade.

He also criticized the past governments on the foreign policy stand, “Let us not make the same mistake qua Russia again when we did with erstwhile Soviet Union when we did not condemn Soviet invasion of Hungary – 1956, Czechoslovakia -1968, Afghanistan-1979. The principle being – In the 21st century can you change status quo by force?”

India joined China and the United Arab Emirates on Friday evening in staying on the sidelines on the resolution which received 11 votes in the 15-member Council, but was shot down by Russia which as a permanent member used its veto.

Explaining the abstention, India’s Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said, “It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it.”

“Dialogue is the only answer to the settling of differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment”, he said.