People's Democracy

Left Mobilises MPs Against Israel

ANGUISHED over the UPA government's meek stand on the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, the CPI(M) leader in parliament Sitaram Yechury said that the Left parties had collected signatures of over 100 MPs as part of efforts to mobilise international opinion to impose sanctions on the aggressor. After submitting the memorandum to prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh with these signatures on July 29, Yechury expressed confidence that they would be able to extract some ''positive action'' from the government.

“Mere condemnation or issuing a statement will not suffice,” Yechury, along with the party’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia told media persons at a briefing in parliament on July 26.

The Party demanded the government suspend purchase of weapons from Israel and take a lead in mobilising international opinion in favor of imposing sanctions on Israel for its aggression against Lebanon in violation of the UN charter, and make efforts for a ceasefire.

Reminding how the Left parties had to stall the house proceedings for three days to pressurise the then NDA government to condemn the US aggression against Iraq, they requested the Manmohan Singh government to display that ''sense of courage'' which it had recently shown at the WTO meet wherein it came forward to protect the country's agriculture sector and millions of farmers.

Noting that since India was the second largest buyer of arms from Israel after the US, it could easily use its influence over Tel Aviv to make it stop its aggression.

Sitaram Yechury also told media that the Left would definitely oppose the Banking Regulation Act (Amendments) in its present mode. (INN)