India stays out of US's move! Despite Russia request, India abstains in UNGA vote

Giving a strong message, New Delhi has abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on a resolution moved by the US to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.

 

 

The 197-member UN body voted on a resolution brought by the US. The resolution was adopted with 93 votes in favor, 24 against, and 58 abstentions, including India.

 

This was India’s 12th vote at the United Nations where it abstained — the 11th since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Since January this year, India has abstained on eight occasions on procedural votes and draft resolutions in the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Human Rights Council that deplored Russian aggression against Ukraine.

 

 

Even though India had abstained from voting, this step will irk Moscow, as Russian envoy Denis Alipov had earlier reached out to its Indian diplomats to seek a vote in its favor. According to the reports by Reuters, Russia had warned countries, saying that a yes vote or abstention will be viewed as an "unfriendly gesture" with consequences for bilateral ties.

 

"It is worth mentioning that not only support for such an initiative but also an equidistant position in the vote (abstention or non-participation) will be considered as an unfriendly gesture," Russia.

 

 

 

Talking about India's stand India's representative at the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, explained the reasons why India abstained from the vote.

 

In a statement, he said, "Since the inception of the Ukrainian conflict, India has stood for peace, dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. If India has chosen any side, it is the side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence. We continue to remain deeply concerned about the worsening situation and reiterate our call for an end to all hostilities. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option."

 

 

"India has been at the forefront of protecting human rights, right from the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We firmly believe that all decisions should be taken fully respecting due process, as all our democratic polity and structures enjoin us to do. This applies to international organisations as well, particularly the United Nations," he added.

 

The Human Rights Council consists of 47 Member States, elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the members of the General Assembly. The General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, "may suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights."

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