Left demands stoppage of arms purchase from Israel

New Delhi, July 26: The Left parties today demanded that India suspend purchase of weapons from Israel and take a lead in mobilising international opinion in favour of imposing sanctions on Israel for its aggression of Lebanon in violation of UN charter.

Raising the West Asia crisis issue during zero hour in Lok Sabha, they asked the government to take the initiative to pressurise Israel and the United States for immediate cessation of hostilities in the region.

Intervening, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma denied the allegation of the Left members that India deviated from its independent foreign policy in its response to the West Asia crisis.

On the criticism that India had not condemned the Israeli attack on civilians in Lebanon, he said ''India unequivocally condemned Israeli action which were excessive and disproportionate.'' Referring to the members' demand for immediate assistance to suffering Lebanese, the minister said India had extended all help when the situation had worsened in Gaza. ''We are committed to doing the same now,'' Mr Sharma added.

In this context, he pointed out that India had also condemned the action of Hizbullah.

Terming the situation ''grave'', he said Indian missions in West Asia were coordinating with the countries in the region. ''We are for cessation of hostilities. This situation is untenable. Lebanon became a victim by default.'' Mr Sharma said the death of one Indian in the war-torn Lebanon had been confirmed so far. The Indian missions in Jordan, Amman and Turkey have been taking steps for the evacuation of stranded Indians from Lebanon.

CPI(M) floor leader Basudeb Acharia said the Israeli response against Lebanon was disproportionate to kidnapping of two of its soldiers. ''It is a brazen violation of international law and Geneva Convention which barred attack on civilian population.'' More than 400 civilians were killed in massive aerial and naval bombardment by Israeli forces. As many as 750,000 civilians had fled Lebanon. This constituted 20 per cent of the population of Lebanon, he said.

He said India should not be a silent spectator in the West Asia crisis, fearing ire from the United States.

''Why are we dithering and hesitating to condemn brutal attack by Iraeli forces, if we are really following an independent foreign policy?'' he asked.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said Israeli attack on Lebanon was ''the gravest crime against humanity perpetrated with impunity by Israel with the backing of the Bush administration in the United States.'' ''It is a combined attack by Israel and Bush administration in the name of fighting terrorism,'' he said, adding that ''it is a full scale war on a small sovereign country.''

UNI