CPI(M) raps govt for 'meek stand' on Lebanon

New Delhi, Jul 26: Anguished over the UPA government's ''meek'' stand on the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, the CPI(M) today said that the Left had collected signatures of over 100 MPs to urge it to mobilise international opinion to impose sanctions on the aggressor.

Party leader Sitaram Yechury said they hoped to get more signatures and hoped that they would be able to extract some ''positive action'' by the government when they meet the Prime Minister in this connection on Friday.

''Mere condemnation or issuing a statement will not suffice,'' Mr Yechury, along with party floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia told mediapersons at a briefing in Parliament.

The party demanded the government suspend purchase of weapons from Israel and take a lead in mobilising international opnion in favour of imposing sanctions on Israel for its aggression against Lebanon in violation of the UN Charter and make efforts for a ceasefire.

The Left leaders, however, did not divulge whether they would press for passing a resolution, bring an adjournment motion or prepare a joint statement.

Reminding how the Left parties had to stall House proceedings for three days to presureise the then NDA government to condemn the US aggression against Iraq, they pleaded with 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.

UNI