Violent scenes at al-Aqsa mosque; India calls for maintaining calm
New Delhi, Apr 6: Against the backdrop of violent scenes at al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem, India on Thursday urged all sides to maintain calm.
According to reports, Israeli police stormed the mosque on Wednesday and clashed with dozens of Palestinians inside its compound triggering widespread condemnation.
"Our position on the Palestine question has been clear and consistent. We are committed to supporting all efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a two-state solution," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
He was replying to a question on the violent scenes at the mosque.
"At this sensitive time, we would urge all sides to maintain calm," he said.
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Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi govt of pushing Manipur into 'civil war'
New Delhi, Jul 1: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led government on Monday of pushing Manipur into a "civil war" due to its policies and politics.
The Congress leader also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the the state since ethnic violence broke out there.
Initiating the debate on behalf of the opposition in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks for the president's address, Gandhi alleged that the government is behaving as if nothing has happened in Manipur.
"You have immersed Manipur into a civil war. Manipur has been burnt by you, your policies and your politics," he said.
The Congress leader said it seems as if Manipur is not an Indian state. "For the prime minister, there is no state of Manipur. We urged the prime minister to give a message, to go there. But no. You cannot get a reply (from the prime minister)," he said.
Gandhi also referred to the plight of the women in the northeastern state. Responding to a remark from the treasury benches, he said "you do not include women in your organisation, but I can speak about them".
Manipur has been on the boil since May last year as ethnic violence broke out in the state after a march was organised by Kuki tribals in the hill districts to protest against the valley-dominant Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
