Pinarayi slams Centre’s ‘submission’ before US over strikes on Iran

Criticising the Union government’s stance on the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Centre’s position amounted to an “extremely humiliating submission” before imperial powers.

He was inaugurating a major political rally in Kozhikode to express solidarity with Iran and protest against the US-Israel military actions on Friday.

The Chief Minister said the Union government’s silence on the aggression against Iran was deplorable. “The country is being tied to imperial powers and surrendering before them. This must be viewed seriously. Strong public opinion should arise against this, and the Indian government should correct its position,” Mr. Vijayan said.

He said India and Iran shared an ancient relationship, and that the latter had historically stood as a friendly nation to India. “Because of the present position of the Indian government, the people of India feel humiliated,” he said.

On Israel’s recent military actions, including those in Gaza, Mr. Vijayan said neither the Indian government nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had strongly responded. “Instead, the Prime Minister adopted a position supportive of Israel. Even as Israel unleashed attacks, we saw the Indian Prime Minister embracing the Israeli Prime Minister. This did not happen accidentally. The message we are sending to the world is that India stands with Israel,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan alleged that despite large-scale killings, the Indian government had not been willing to speak out against what he described as American imperialism.

He further referred to an incident in which an Iranian ship returning after participating in a joint military exercise in India was allegedly attacked by the United States, leading to the deaths of several sailors. “They were our guests who had come to our country. Even that incident was not condemned,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that after Independence India had adopted a strong anti-imperialist position, and its voice was widely heard on the global stage. However, he said the stance gradually changed over time.

According to him, the shift began during the Congress period, particularly during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, when India accepted economic liberalisation and began moving closer to the United States.

Mr. Vijayan also alleged that India’s attitude towards Israel had changed during this period, and that the policy had been continued by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Zionists in Israel and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh here are like ideological twins. Because of this, a position of fully supporting Israel has emerged,” he said.