Right to say or right to dissent on Israel-Gaza issue cannot be stifled by fear

By D N Singh

On Monday a police constable was suspended for posting in the social media supporting the Palestinians stuck in Gaza Strip.

And an investigation has been instituted against him as why did he do so.
It may be recalled that, the Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi had told Benjamin Netanyahu that India stands with Israel. That was soon after the Hamas launched a blistering attack on Israel taking the latter almost unaware.

Condemning the Hamas’s attack was alright but the sudden posturing in favour of Israel was obviously viewed as a decision so abruptly taken for a diplomatic matter as serious as that.
Scenes then after changed and the Israeli forces made a solid retaliation and it goes on, almost pulverizing the Palestinian civilians settled in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile a fear was created from India that anyone found supporting the Palestinians or by implication criticizing Israel for the counter attacks is, as if, punishable.
Subsequently, a series of protests against the Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip have started in some places in India and in the US as well.

Regardless of the bonhomie between Indian and Israeli PMs, the political posturing has started with a vengeance almost.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has openly come out against the attacks on the Gaza Strip by Israel.
The CPI (ML) has condemned the attacks on Gaza settlers as people from both sides are paying through their lives.

The US President Joe Biden has on Monday sounded the stern warning for Israel that, the latter’s intention to lay siege or occupy Gaza Strip would have adverse consequences.
So did the US Secretary of State Blinken who made repeat trips to Israel post the conflict was not for nothing, of course.

Blinken too has raised questions over the deteriorating humanitarian issues seriously affecting the Palestinians in Gaza Strip those who have suffered for few generations since the 1967 six day deadly war that tore through the fabrics of Palestinian lives.

Now suddenly imposing a blanket ban on the peoples’ views in favour or against Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza sounds not very appropriately conceived by India.
India would have done better by remaining non-committal as in the case of Russia-Ukraine war rather than firing a constable or targeting scribes.