America is behind Israel on Palestine issue; UPA government is also responsible for India's change in policy: Pinarayi Vijayan

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that it is America that is playing all the games with Israel on the Palestine issue. He was speaking at the Palestine Solidarity Rally organized by CPM in Kozhikode. He also criticized the central government's policy of supporting Israel and blamed the RSS, BJP and the previous UPA government for their change in stance.

India was with the Palestinian position during the freedom struggle and after independence. India had relations only with Palestine. We only agreed with Palestine and Israel was the state we did not agree with. We did not have even normal nation-to-nation relations with Israel. We should remember when this changed. Israel is doing all the atrocities with the support of American imperialism. When we took a strong anti-imperialist stance, our position was clear. However, slowly the country's position started to deteriorate. India recognized Israel during Narasimha Rao's tenure as Prime Minister. Friendship with the United States was the reason behind it. We were under pressure from America. We have seen how that pressure has grown. We have to wonder where that American relationship has taken India. Pinarayi asked what is the difference between that policy and today's BJP policy.

In many places, people are taking to the streets in solidarity with Palestine. It is mainly organized by the left. Why can't we see the political parties with great influence in this country over there? None of this is part of the ambiguity, it is due to the lack of a definite position, Pinarayi said.