Bengaluru for Justice and Peace urges MP Priyanka Gandhi to push Congress for arms embargo on Israel
Bengaluru: Bengaluru for Justice and Peace, a local citizens’ group, has written to Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, urging her to press the Indian National Congress (INC) to pass a resolution calling for a complete arms embargo on Israel.
In the letter, the group welcomed Priyanka Gandhi’s recent remarks condemning the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza. In a post on X earlier in the day, Priyanka described the killings as a “cold blooded murder” and “yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil.” She said the “immeasurable courage” of those who “dare to stand for the truth” would never be broken by “the violence and hatred of the Israeli state.”
She also said that “in a world where much of the media is enslaved to power and commerce, these brave souls reminded us of what true journalism is,” and expressed hope that the journalists would “rest in peace.” According to Al Jazeera, the journalists, including Anas al-Sharif, were killed in what it described as a targeted Israeli strike on a tent housing reporters near Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital.
In their letter, the Bengaluru group noted that while her statements were timely, stronger action was needed. They urged her to push the Congress party to pass a resolution for a total ban on the export and transit of weapons, weapon components, and dual-use items to Israel. Direct the Karnataka state government to review and suspend contracts, grants, and schemes linked to Israeli defence companies and exports.
The group criticised Karnataka Congress leaders for attending pro-Israel events and fostering collaborations with Israeli officials and companies, citing examples such as Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao attending the “Haifa Memorial Lectures” in September 2024, and meetings between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Israeli consular officials announcing joint ventures.
The Bengaluru-based group had written to the INC last year after the Karnataka Deputy CM attended and facilitated the India-Israel Business Summit at IISc Bengaluru.
On August 6, the group wrote to Members of Parliament highlighting ties between nine Bengaluru-based companies and three Israeli arms manufacturers, Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The companies named were Ace Inotec Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Alpha-Elsec Aerospace Systems, Amphenol Interconnect India Pvt. Ltd., Amphetronix Offset Interconnect Solutions Pvt. Ltd., DCX Systems Ltd., Defsys Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Indo-MIM Pvt. Ltd., SASMOS HET Technologies Ltd., and Wave Mechanics Pvt. Ltd.
The letter accused the companies of being complicit in the genocide of Palestinians and warned that India’s legacy of solidarity with Palestine was in danger. It urged MPs to support an arms embargo on Israel and cited Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, the Genocide Convention, and other legal frameworks as grounds for action.
The cold blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 12, 2025
The immeasurable courage of those who dare to stand for the truth will never be broken by the violence and hatred of the Israeli state.
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Businessman burnt to death as moving car catches fire in Noida
Noida (PTI): A 46-year-old businessman was burnt to death after his moving car caught fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, police said on Tuesday.
According to police, the victim was identified as Rajkumar Singhal, who was engaged in the paint business. The incident occurred late on Monday night near Sorkha village under the Sector 113 police station area.
Station House Officer Krishna Gopal Sharma said Singhal was driving towards Parthala Chowk when his vehicle suddenly caught fire for reasons yet to be ascertained.
Singhal was unable to get out of the car and died in the blaze, the SHO said.
Fire tenders reached the spot after receiving information, but the car had already been gutted, police said. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and an investigation is underway.
Police suspect the presence of paint or other inflammable material in the car may have caused the fire to spread rapidly.
