New Delhi: Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and parliament member, PP Suneer, has strongly criticized the Indian government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for allegedly putting Indian workers’ lives at risk by deploying them to the conflict-affected Israel-Palestine region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Suneer expressed concerns about the government’s prioritization of its diplomatic relationship with Israel over the safety of its citizens. He emphasized that the decision to send workers into a volatile war zone demonstrates a preference for aligning with Israel rather than ensuring the security of Indian nationals.

Suneer’s comments were prompted by a disclosure from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha, indicating that approximately 12,000 of the 32,000 Indian workers in Israel had arrived after October 2023. He criticized the move, describing the situation in the region as highly unstable and accusing the government of compromising the safety of Indian workers.

The CPI MP also pointed out what he perceives as a contradiction in India’s foreign policy, suggesting that the government’s support for Israel conflicts with India’s historical backing of the Palestinian cause. He further highlighted the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza, where casualties have exceeded 44,000, including the death of Colonel Waibhav Kale (retd), a former Indian Army officer.

In response to inquiries from Suneer, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the deaths of two Indian nationals due to the conflict, one in Lebanon in March 2024, and another in Gaza in May 2024. Additionally, three Indian citizens were reported injured.

Suneer concluded by accusing the Modi government of neglecting its responsibility to protect Indian workers, stating that sending them to a war zone without proper safeguards demonstrates a disregard for their safety.