NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said those who slammed his remarks on Palestine are ‘more loyal than king’.
While, referring to PM Narendra Modi's statement on his conversation with authorities in which he reiterated India's long-standing position on the issue and ensured aid for Palestine, Pawar said: "I had expressed similar views on the lines expressed by past prime ministers ranging from Jawaharlal Nehru to Atal Behari Vajpayee, which was to ensure a peaceful resolution to the long-standing dispute, where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and harmony as neighbours,”HT reported.
Earlier, a controversy had erupted after NCP supremo Pawar said India historically stood beside Palestine as it considered Palestinians as the original inhabitants of the land.
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The remark had not gone well with BJP leaders including Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who had said “Pawar should send his daughter Supriya Sule to Gaza to fight for Hamas.”
Besides, other BJP leaders including Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Devendra Fadnavis had criticised Pawar's pro-Palestine statement.
On Friday, Pawar cited all the "unsolicited advice and comments" and these BJP leaders are "more loyal than the king', as PM Modi himself spoke to the Palestine President on Thursday, the report mentioned.
"I hope the BJP leaders who misconstrued my statement will understand the nation's stand on such a sensitive issue. There is an English idiom that says 'more loyal than the king', which probably their comments can be classified as," Pawar said, the report mentioned.
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In his first statement after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Modi condemned the "terrorist" attack and said India stands with Israel.
The statement was questioned by several opposition leaders as India historically supported a "sovereign, independent and viable" Palestine. The MEA clarified India's position on Israel and Palestine as New Delhi condemned Hamas' attack on Israel.
On the 13th day of the Israel-Hamas war, PM Modi spoke to the Palestine president and expressed concern over civilian casualties after the Gaza hospital came under an attack on October 17.
