Mamata Banerjee on Monday recounted India’s role in the non-aligned movement (NAM) and wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to play an active role in restoring peace at a time when Russia and Ukraine were locked in a bitter war that threatened global peace.
“A war is on. I am not in anybody’s favour. We want peace across the globe. India speaks of global peace,” the chief minister said while inaugurating the Calcutta Book Fair on Monday.
Towards the end of her address at the inaugural, Mamata recounted India’s role in the NAM.
“I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister today requesting him to play a role in restoring peace. From the days of NAM, India has always played a lead role in restoring peace. India can mediate amid the international crisis and stop the war... All issues could be resolved through dialogues. I don’t want to say which country is good or bad. We want peace,” she said.
“We are just emerging from a war against Covid.… We don’t want another war,” she added.
In her letter to Modi, Mamata offered “unconditional support” to the Prime Minister on the Ukraine issue and urged him to consider convening an all-party meeting for national resolve to emerge from the crisis in accordance with the country’s stand on international peace and non aggression.
“I would request you to accept my unconditional support during the ongoing international crisis, and to consider whether you will like to have an all-party meeting now for consolidating our national resolve to come out of the crisis with our head held high,” wrote the chief minister.
The theme of the letter was that of co-operation with the Centre as she wrote: “.… In times of grave international crisis we keep aside our domestic disagreements to stand united as a nation. We do this to make sure that our dignity as a nation is unchallenged and unviolated. We do this to ensure that the principles on which we conduct our foreign affairs continue to be stable in the global arena.”
Mamata, one of the leading figures in the national opposition space, added: “I reiterate our adherence to this long-standing norm of our polity during the current international crisis of the Ukraine War.”
The chief minister also reminded the Prime Minister of New Delhi’s long-standing commitment to international peace and non-aggression and urged him to lead the country on the basis of the principles.
“Since our Independence, we as a nation have been known for our commitment to international peace and non-aggression, and our rejection of practices of trans-border invasion and interference. I am sure that in steering our diplomatic affairs during the current crisis, you will lead us on the basis of these abiding principles,” read the letter.
The chief minister extended her support to the Centre in evacuating the Indians stranded in Ukraine.
“Indeed, particularly with regard to the evacuation of the stranded Indians in Ukraine, and, specially, in giving a quick helping hand to our students there in distress, we stand united under our tri-colour flag, irrespective of party or politics,” she wrote.
