The Congress party steered clear of commenting on the Centre’s decision to abstain from voting on a resolution against Russia at the United Nations Security Council, focusing instead on the delay in evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine. In contrast to the party’s reticence, senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari have slammed the government, for taking the abstention route.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Tharoor said that India’s decision to abstain does not come as a surprise, since, in an earlier statement on the conflict, the government refrained from mentioning Russia as a “wrong-doer” and made it clear that the country was going to put friendship with Russia first.
He asked, “But if ‘friends’ can’t speak honestly to each other, what is the friendship worth?”
