India, which along with Russia, China, Germany and Brazil (South Africa was bulldozed into aligning with the West) had abstained from voting for air strikes in the United Nation Security Council, now reconciled itself to the killing of former Libyan strongman Muammar Qadhafi.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said the strife in Libya and the suffering of its people had been a matter of concern and it hoped that peace and stability would soon return to Libya. “At this juncture, India reiterates its readiness to extend all possible assistance to the people of Libya in their political transition and rebuilding of the country,’’ it added.
Diplomats pointed out India’s association with Libya had less to do with oil and more with sending its people for capacity building such as in teaching and working on oil rigs.
Given India’s distaste for imposed external solutions and the fact that it was among the large number of nations which dissented with the military support by the west, diplomats said they expected France, the U.K., Italy and the U.S. to reap initial harvest of oil contracts. Officially India did not comment on his killing.
Former diplomat K P Fabian felt Col. Qadhafi’s killing would smoothen the path for the NTC as it would not have to bother about one person who could have rallied tribes left out of the power sharing arrangement in Tripoli. “The removal of another dictator shows that the Arab spring is getting stronger and stronger,’’ he observed.
