Regarding the conflict in West Asia, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said: “I think India must be active. We cannot sit idly by.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to reach out to Iranian leaders amid rising tensions in West Asia, saying India should be a “constructive voice” for peace.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Tharoor said: “I am happy that India is taking the peace initiative.” “I think India has to be active. We cannot sit idly by,” he added.
The remarks came a day after Modi spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the deteriorating security situation in West Asia during the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States.
The conflict has also raised concerns about the disruption of vital energy trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes.
“Fault on both sides,” says Tharoor.
When asked about the recent resolution passed by the UN Security Council condemning Iran’s attacks on its neighbours, Tharoor said the responsibility lies with both sides of the conflict.
“In principle, there is a mistake on both sides,” he said, criticizing the initial strikes launched by the United States and Israel.
“It was wrong on the part of the United States and Israel to attack,” Tharoor said, arguing that claims of provocation or pre-emptive self-defense were difficult to justify when negotiations were underway and Iran was “apparently meeting everything that was required.”
At the same time, he also blamed Iran for expanding the conflict. He added: “Similarly, on the other side, Iran bears the blame for attacking countries that are not party to the war and harming innocent civilians.”
He added that the escalating violence highlights “the absurdity of wars and conflicts.”
“We must collectively push to end this.”
Tharoor warned that continued hostilities could have serious consequences on global energy flows and India’s interests in the region.
“At the moment, it does not appear that either side is willing to compromise,” he said, adding that Donald Trump’s statements indicated that the military campaign may soon run out of targets, while Iran indicated that retaliation may continue.
“It is difficult for us sitting in Delhi to judge,” Tharoor said. But he said India must remain a “constructive voice for peace.”
Tharoor also pointed out the dangers faced by Indian citizens in the region. “The safety of nine million Indians in the Gulf countries and our relations is also at risk,” he said, adding that “it is in the world’s interest that we collectively push to end this, and we must be a leading voice on this issue.”
Concerns about LPG supplies
Tharoor also addressed reports of shortages of commercial LPG cylinders, saying supply challenges could particularly impact households that have switched from conventional fuel to gas.
He said: “According to the minister’s statement yesterday, gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, all of these supplies are sufficient.”
But he noted that LPG appears to face specific problems. “LPG appears to be an area where there is some shortage,” Tharoor said, adding that increasing reliance on gas cylinders – especially in rural areas – means any outage could create serious difficulties.
“If it is not easy to get the cylinders, it will become a real challenge,” he said, urging the country to work collectively to solve the problem quickly.
Meanwhile, India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri denied claims that the country is facing a shortage of LPG.
(with ANI inputs)
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