NEW DELHI: Congress (I) president Rajiv Gandhi has urged the government to seek an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council to review the progress of the resolution authorizing withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait.
Expressing concern at the large scale destruction of civilian economic and industrial targets in Iraq Gandhi in a letter to prime minister Chander Shekhar said India should not remain a mere spectator It should work on a “workable plan of action” to end the fighting and bring peace to the area he said.
India should work out the plan “individually or collectively with a View to a cessation of hostilities and to bringing about a durable solution to the issues involve and aimed at sustained peace in the region.”
He said New Delhi should take up with the United Nations Security Council and the U N environment programme the issue of the spreading oil slick and its danger to Indian environment.
Instead of the war being directed towards restoring Kuwait’s sovereignty the main target has become Iraq Gandhi said.
Even the holy places of Najaf and Karbala have reportedly been hit. The archaeological and historical heritage of one of the world’s oldest civilization’s has been damaged he said.
Quoting from the report of the U.N. secretary general to the Security Council he said it appeared from it that president Saddam Hussein had not closed the door to negotiations and a peaceful resolution of the problem
In-spite of this the multinational forces launched their attack almost immediately after the deadline expired. No time at all was given for a peaceful path he said.
If this is correct then why did Our permanent representative not seek more time for a peaceful solution so that at least India would be seen as having tried her best towards the exploration of all other means before resorting to the ultimate instrument of war” Gandhi said.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 8, 1991
