Editor's Pick: Govt defends abstention from Gaza ceasefire resolution voting

The Union Government on Saturday defended its decision to abstain from voting in a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a humanitarian truce and ceasefire in Gaza. According to a note circulated by government sources, India was concerned about certain omissions in the final text of the resolution. The reference entailing “explicit condemnation” of the October 7 attacks in Israel was not made part of the text. A source told The Hindu, “There can be no equivocation on terror,” adding that India’s position was steadfast and consistent. The assembly adopted a resolution Friday late evening (India time) calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to cessation of hostilities.” Proposed by Jordan, the resolution was adopted with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions. Reacting to the development, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was “shocked and ashamed”. “To refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity is pulverised, food, water, medical supplies, communication and power is cut off to millions of people and thousands of men, women and children in Palestine are being annihilated goes against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation,” she posted on social media platform ‘X’. Presenting the government’s stance, former cabinet minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi argued that India would never be on the side of terrorism. “Those who choose to side with terror do so at their own peril…,” he held. India’s EoV did not name Hamas. It only backed an earlier amendment proposed by Canada to include a paragraph that would “unequivocally reject and condemn” the October 7 attacks with a call for release of hostages. Only 88 countries voted in favour – less than the two-thirds required mandate. The Hindu Explains Will QR codes improve access to food labels? | Explained Why will police stations install DNA systems? | Explained The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences? Esther Duflo Gerty Cori Elinor Ostrom Claudia Goldin To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 29 October 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Government defends abstention from Gaza ceasefire resolution voting The Union Government on Saturday defended its decision to [abstain from voting in a United Nations General Assembly]( resolution calling for a humanitarian truce and ceasefire in Gaza. According to a note circulated by government sources, India was concerned about certain omissions in the final text of the resolution. The reference entailing “explicit condemnation” of the October 7 attacks in Israel was not made part of the text. A source told The Hindu, “There can be no equivocation on terror,” adding that India’s position was steadfast and consistent.  The [assembly adopted a resolution Friday]( late evening (India time) calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to cessation of hostilities.” Proposed by Jordan, the resolution was adopted with 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions.  Reacting to the development, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was “shocked and ashamed”. “To refuse to take a stand and watch in silence as every law of humanity is pulverised, food, water, medical supplies, communication and power is cut off to millions of people and thousands of men, women and children in Palestine are being annihilated goes against everything our country has stood for throughout its life as a nation,” she posted on social media platform ‘X’.  Presenting the government’s stance, former cabinet minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi argued that India would never be on the side of terrorism.  “Those who choose to side with terror do so at their own peril…,” he held.  India’s EoV did not name Hamas. It only backed an earlier amendment proposed by Canada to include a paragraph that would “unequivocally reject and condemn” the October 7 attacks with a call for release of hostages. Only 88 countries voted in favour – less than the two-thirds required mandate.  The Hindu Explains [Arrow][Will QR codes improve access to food labels? | ExplainedÂ]( [Arrow][Why will police stations install DNA systems? | Explained Â]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences? - Esther Duflo - Gerty Cori - Elinor Ostrom - Claudia Goldin To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[Woman killed, several injured in explosion at a convention centre in Kerala’s Kalamassery] Woman killed, several injured in explosion at a convention centre in Kerala’s Kalamassery]( [[Weekend special: Finding solace and jobs with Tribal plus] Weekend special: Finding solace and jobs with Tribal plus]( [[Narayana Murthy’s suggestion of 70-hour work week draws flak across board] Narayana Murthy’s suggestion of 70-hour work week draws flak across board]( [[Hezbollah | The party of God] Hezbollah | The party of God]( Copyright @ 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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