Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 5: The Indian National Congress on Monday strongly criticised recent actions by the United States in Venezuela, describing them as a violation of international law, the United Nations Charter and a serious threat to global stability.
Former External Affairs Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the party was deeply disturbed by what it termed unilateral US actions following the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. In a statement issued in his capacity as Chairman of the Congress Foreign Affairs Department, Khurshid said such moves undermine the established norms governing international conduct.
“The Congress expresses grave concern at the unilateral actions taken by the United States of America in Venezuela over the past 48 hours, which transgress settled principles of international law as enshrined in the UN Charter and various international treaties,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of sovereignty, Khurshid noted that respect for national independence and peaceful coexistence has been the foundation of the post-World War II rules-based global order. He warned that the use of force without explicit authorisation from the United Nations risks destabilising international relations and reviving outdated power-driven approaches to statecraft.
The Congress also stressed that the future of Venezuela should be determined solely by its people. Khurshid said the party believes Venezuelan resources must be used for the welfare of Venezuelans, in line with the principle of permanent sovereignty over natural resources.
Earlier, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh echoed similar concerns. In a social media post on Sunday, he said the party viewed recent US actions in Venezuela with “very grave concern” and asserted that established principles of international law cannot be unilaterally violated.
The Congress’s statement came amid wider political reactions in India. On Sunday, Left parties held a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, condemning the US move as what they described as imperialist military aggression. Leaders of the CPI(M) called for global condemnation of the action and urged the Indian government to take a firm and clear stand, alleging that the intervention was driven by an attempt to seize Venezuela’s oil resources.