19 October,2023 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Jitendra Awhad. File pic
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad criticized the exploitation of the Israel-Hamas conflict as a "polarisation tool" in India and expressed doubts about the seriousness of Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, stated a report in ANI.
Awhad suggested that some individuals seek to exploit the connection between Palestine and Muslims to promote anti-Muslim sentiments in India, using the Israel-Hamas conflict as a means to achieve this goal.
"Because Palestine is connected to Muslims and Muslim hatred should be brought to India; it is the only plan they have in their minds. This war is being used as a polarisation tool in India," Awhad was quoted as saying.
The NCP leader went on to comment on Sarma, stating that those who harbor ill will and lack an understanding of international politics, like Himanta Biswa Sarma, should not be taken seriously.
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The NCP leader noted, "I don't think people like Himanta Biswa Sarma need to be taken seriously -those who have hatred in mind and those who do not know what international politics is all about."
Awhad's statements were prompted by remarks made by Assam Chief Minister Sarma, who responded to NCP chief Sharad Pawar's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict by making an unconventional comment. Sarma suggested that NCP chief Sharad Pawar might send his daughter, Supriya Sule, to Gaza to fight for Hamas.
In response, Supriya Sule, a Lok Sabha MP, urged the BJP to carefully listen to Sharad Pawar's speech before making such comments.
Sharad Pawar had earlier stated that past Indian Prime Ministers had supported Palestine, but for the first time, the Prime Minister of India had endorsed Israel's role in the conflict, emphasizing the NCP's stance of supporting those originally from the land in question.
"The role of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was to help Palestine. For the first time, the Prime Minister of this country supported the role of Israel. The stand of the NCP should be clear. We stand by the people who originally belonged to that land," Pawar had previously said.
