“Tomorrow it can happen to India,” Prithviraj Chavan on US action in Venezuela

Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister CM Prithviraj Chavan on Monday strongly criticised the United States US over its action in Venezuela calling the capture of President Nicolas Maduro a ldquograve concernrdquo and warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for other countries including India news agency ANI reportedSpeaking to ANI Chavan said the US action was a clear violation of the United Nations CharterldquoWhatever has happened in Venezuela is against the UN Charter An elected President has been kidnapped and taken to another country You may not like the policies but do you have the right to kidnap an elected Presidentrdquo he askedHe said the issue would be debated at the UN Security Council and warned against allowing one nation to act as a global hegemonldquoItrsquos a very grave concern that it could happen to any other country tomorrow Tomorrow it can happen to India If you allow one country to impose its will in international affairs we are entering very dangerous territoryrdquo Chavan saidThe former Maharashtra CM also criticised Indiarsquos response alleging that New Delhi had failed to take a clear stand on the issueldquoIndia has not spoken as usual not taken a stand on the Venezuela matter What is right what is morally correctmdashnothingrdquo he said adding that Russia and China had openly criticised the US actionThe Congress leader accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of prioritising personal diplomacy over moral clarity in foreign policyldquoIn India Prime Minister Modi is more concerned about his own personal image than standing up for what is right and what is wrong The same thing happened during the Ukraine war We did not take any side Both sides are correct both sides are wrong We did not take a stand even on the IsraelHamas issue despite a clear case of genocide in Gaza We kept quiet because Netanyahu is PM Modirsquos personal friendrdquo Chavan allegedQuestioning the allegations levelled against Maduro Chavan said claims of drug trafficking must be supported by evidenceldquoIf America has a point that President Madurorsquos regime was exporting drugs it is a serious charge But we have seen this before in the case of Saddam Hussein where false claims were used as an excuse to invade Iraqrdquo he saidAllegations by Donald Trump need to be provedHe added that allegations made by US President Donald Trump needed to be proven ldquoThis claim about drug exports and Maduro being personally involved in drug smuggling is made by Trump Whether it is true or not we donrsquot know Enough evidence has to be provided But whatever the case no one can justify kidnapping an elected leader of a sovereign countryrdquo he saidMeanwhile India on Sunday expressed deep concern over the developments in Venezuela ldquoRecent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern We are closely monitoring the evolving situation India reaffirms its support to the wellbeing and safety of the people of Venezuela We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue ensuring peace and stability in the regionrdquo the Ministry of External Affairs said in a releaseThe MEA added that the Indian Embassy in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistanceThe United States on Saturday carried out what it described as a ldquolargescale strike against Venezuelardquo and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores who were taken out of the country Trump later said that Maduro and his wife had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges of ldquodrug trafficking and narcoterrorism conspiraciesrdquo and would face trialAccording to Trump American forces in coordination with law enforcement agencies captured the Venezuelan President and his wife during a nighttime operationWith ANI inputs