After the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military strike, Indian opposition parties like CPI(M) and Congress condemned the action, with some calling the US a 'terrorist state' and warning of a return to imperialism.
As the US carried out "large-scale strikes" against Venezuela and captured its deposed dictator, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, several opposition parties in India termed the move as a violation of International human rights laws, accusing the US of behaving like "a terrorist state under Donald Trump's presidency."
CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby on Sunday strongly condemned the US' military action in Venezuela and the capture of its President and deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife from Caracas, accusing Washington of violating international law and human rights. He accused the US of acting irresponsibly on the global stage, stating that the episode reflected how the country was "behaving like a rogue state, a terrorist state under Donald Trump's presidency."
"This shows how the USA is behaving like a rogue state, a terrorist state under Donald Trump's presidency," Baby said while addressing the reporters.
Indian Opposition Condemns US Action
Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said international law and the United Nations Charter had been ignored for some time, and now law of the Jungle prevails. In a post on X, he wrote, "International law and the UN Charter have for some years now been honoured in the breach, @kapskom. The Law of the Jungle prevails today. 'Might is Right' is the new creed."
Congress leader and Member of Rajya Sabha Abhishek Manu Singhvi called the action a return to imperial-style politics. He wrote on X, "Regime change by cruise missile, democracy delivered by warship, & sovereignty rewritten under self-styled Doctrine? Not leadership, this is 19th-cen imperialism in 21st-cen jargon. If international law matters only 2 weak, UN should shut shop. world deserves rules, not lunatic rulers."
Concern for Indian Expatriates
Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday expressed concern for Indian expatriates in Venezuela following the recent US strikes in the country's capital. He emphasised that such incidents create instability, naturally raising worries about the safety of Indians living there. Khurshid noted that he hopes the government will acknowledge these concerns and take all necessary measures to protect Indian citizens abroad.
"First and foremost, we are concerned about our Indian expatriates present there. Whenever there is a major incident anywhere that causes instability, naturally, we become concerned about our Indian expatriates. The government has expressed this concern, and we hope that the government will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our Indian expatriates," Salman Khurshid told ANI.
Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi considered the US' strikes on Venezuela as not just an attack on country's sovereignty but a warning for the entire world. He accused the US of destroying countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, Panama, El Salvador, Chile, and other nations in Africa. "This attack on that country's sovereignty is a warning to the entire world. The US has, time and again, not just once or twice, but in dozens of cases, attacked other states, overthrown their leadership, and orchestrated coups... They destroyed all of Syria, all of Afghanistan, Panama, El Salvador, Chile, and many countries in South Africa, where they directly intervened and orchestrated regime changes," Gandhi said.
MEA Calls for Dialogue
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed deep concern about developments in Venezuela, stating that it was closely monitoring the situation. India also urged the parties involved to pursue dialogue and diplomacy.
"Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation," the MEA statement read. "India reaffirms its support to the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region," it added.
Trump Confirms Capture
US on Saturday carried out a "large-scale strike against Venezuela", and the deposed dictator, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and taken out of the country. Maduro and Flores were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Maduro and his wife were captured in Caracas during a nighttime US military operation and would face trial in the United States. He said they have been indicted on charges of alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies" in the Southern District of New York.
Addressing a press conference in Florida, Trump said, "No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday or frankly, in just a short period of time. All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military, working with US law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night."
"It was dark, and it was deadly, but he was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom now face American justice. Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York," he added.
The capture of Maduro comes at a time of sharply rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. (ANI)
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