Unease in Cong as CWC resolution skips reference to Hamas or terror

“The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect. The CWC calls for an immediate cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict,” the CWC resolution said.

The statement, which formed the last paragraph of the resolution, has triggered unease in the party. A CWC member told The Indian Express: “It is an absurd formulation. It is as if we are condoning the terrorist attack by Hamas. As if we are endorsing terrorism. There will be a backlash.”

Incidentally, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not name Hamas but in an unambiguous message, departing from Delhi’s traditional balancing act, posted on X: “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

Sources said the draft resolution of the CWC had no mention of the Middle East crisis. The CWC was convened primarily to endorse Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a caste census and removal of the 50 percent cap on reservation for SC, ST and OBCs. Moreover, the party’s communication head, Jairam Ramesh, had issued a brief statement Sunday.

Towards the end of the meeting, sources said, senior leader from Kerala Ramesh Chennithala demanded that the resolution should, while condemning the Hamas attack, express solidarity with the people of Palestine given the party’s longstanding commitment to the Palestinian cause. Chennithala is a permanent invitee to the CWC.

Sources said a couple of lines were promptly drafted after his intervention but it had no mention of Hamas or the word “terrorism.”

In fact, the official reaction of the Congress issued by Ramesh Sunday also made no mention of Hamas or terror while calling the attack “brutal.”

“The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop,” Ramesh had said in a post on X Sunday.

As today’s formulation was read out at the CWC, sources said several members, including Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Kumar Bansal, pointed out that there was no mention of Hamas and the word terrorism.

Sources said at least half a dozen of the estimated 40 members said the party should condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations given its historical position against terrorism. Many leaders argued that Ramesh’s statement Sunday was largely balanced and nuanced and there was no need for a separate statement.

Kharge then intervened. He said attention should not be diverted from the CWC’s stand on the caste census and ruled that a standalone statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict, if need be, can be issued later.

But, surprisingly, the paragraph found a mention in the CWC resolution which was released to the media later, leaving many leaders unhappy.