Congress Parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi on Friday supported the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government’s stance on the Ukraine conflict.
While addressing the media during an event in Belgium, Gandhi, a fierce critic of Modi and his government, said that the opposition also largely agrees with the country's position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“I think the opposition, by and large, would agree with India's current position on the conflict. We have a relationship with Russia. I don't think the opposition would have a different position from what the government is currently proposing,” the former Congress chief said.
It is not the first time that the Gandhi scion has supported the central government’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier in June, during his six-day visit to the US, he had told the reporters in Washington DC that his party would have responded similarly to the conflict.
“Because India has that sort of relationship with Russia and that can't be denied. Our policy would be similar,” he had said during his US tour.
Manmohan Singh Also Backs India's Stance
Earlier in the day, former Prime Minister and Congress politician Manmohan Singh had backed the government for its stance on the conflict in an interview with an Indian daily.
“India has done the right thing in putting its sovereign and economic interest first while also appealing for peace,” he said.
Gandhi’s Europe Tour
The Congress parliamentarian left for Europe on Tuesday, days before India is all set to host top leaders of the world, including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and others for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit. He will now visit France, where he will address students at a university in Paris.
On 9 September, he will participate in a meeting of the Labour Union of France in Paris. A day later, the Congress parliamentarian will visit Norway, where he will meet the Indian diaspora.
Earlier, on Thursday, the former Congress chief had met Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Brussels and attended a round table with them in the European Parliament.
The round table was co-hosted by Alviina Almetsa (Shadow Rapporteur on EU-India Relationship) and Pierre Larrouturou (portfolios within Parliamentary budget, climate & employment generation).
The events during Gandhi’s Europe tour have been organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) and the IOC chief Sam Pitroda is accompanying Gandhi on his visits.