Public meeting in Hyd urges Centre to honour legacy of support to Palestinians

Hyderabad: A massive public meeting held in Hyderabad on Monday to protest against Israel’s action against Palestine urged the government of India to honour the legacy of support to the people of Palestine.

Leaders of various political and religious organisations addressed the meeting held at Darussalam, the headquarters of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

The meeting presided over by AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owasi unanimously passed a resolution condemning the atrocities of Israel on Palestinians.

The resolution recalled that in 1974, India became the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine.

“The Republic of India must continue to honour this legacy of support to the people of Palestine. We call upon the government of India to remember what Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘Palestine belongs to the Palestinians just as England belongs to the English and France to the French’. India has always stood and acted in solidarity with the victims of apartheid and colonialism, whether in South Africa, Indonesia, or Palestine. It must not forsake this history,” read the resolution.

The meeting declared its support for the decades long struggle of the Palestinian people to end the occupation of their lands.

It called upon the international community to rein in Israel, which is committing crimes against humanity.

“Israel must adhere to international law and UN resolutions, besides honouring the Oslo Accords of 1992-93. It must end its occupation of Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jerusalem and all territories prior to its occupation in 1967. Israel must not prevent the formation of a free and sovereign Palestinian state any longer,” read the resolution.

Telangana’s Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, religious scholar Mufti Khaleel Ahmed and leaders of various Muslim organisations addressed the public meeting.

–IANS