Mumbai, Dec 30 (IANS) The India-Palestine Solidarity Front (IPSF) on Saturday strongly condemned the Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Waleed Abu Ali, for sharing the dais with 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and welcomed his recall.
"We appreciate the prompt action by President Mahmoud Abbas, the Government of Palestine, to recall (Ali) for having attended a meeting convened by LeT Chief Hafeez Saeed, an internationally reviled and known hardcore terrorist," said IPSF.
"This prompt action by the Palestinian government will go a long way in improving India-Palestine ties and further cooperation", and "the immediate dialogue and resolution of the crisis is truly appreciated by both the people of India and Palestine", it said.
The rich historical legacy bequeathed upon our nation by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh and the stalwarts of our freedom struggle, the respect and adulation for the great Yasser Arafat, lives on in our collective memory.
"The Indian people will continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their epic quest for freedom from the Zionist Israeli occupation and the creation of a sovereign and an independent state of Palestine," the IPSF added.
Earlier in the day, in a statement, the IPSF National Committee members Suresh Khairnar, Kishor Jagtap, Jatin Desai and Feroze Mithiborwalal had demanded that President Mahmoud Abbas condemn and sack the envoy (Ali).
Desai told IANS that after its statement, the IPSF has been barraged with calls/messages from all over India, including the Palestinian authorities, and they had assured remedial action.
"The fact that this reprehensible act comes soon after the historic UNGA vote where the Government of India stood by Palestine and negated President Trump's declaration on Jerusalem is even more shocking," the IPSF said.
It pointed out that "India has consistently voted in favour of Palestine and stood by all UN Resolutions and the overwhelming international consensus favouring an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as the capital."
"On the other hand the global solidarity movement for the cause of Palestine continues to gather momentum. Thus any such unprincipled actions on the part of the Palestinian representatives, will only damage the cause of the liberation of Palestine in their courageous struggle against the colonial occupation by apartheid Israel," the signatories said.
On Friday, Waleed Abu Ali courted controversy by sharing stage with terror outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Saeed at a gathering organised by Difa-e-Pakistan Council, an umbrella organization of hardline right-wing groups.
India termed the action "unacceptable" and took up the matter strongly with the Palestinian authorities.
About VDC
Doraiah Chowdary Vundavally is a Software engineer at VTech . He is the news editor of SocialNews.XYZ and Freelance writer-contributes Telugu and English Columns on Films, Politics, and Gossips. He is the primary contributor for South Cinema Section of SocialNews.XYZ. His mission is to help to develop SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgement towards any.