As India grappled with the crisis pertaining to its nationals in Iraq — torn by strife between Sunnis and Shias — BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has urged the Government of India to offer military and economic support to Iraq and “stand with Shias in the emerging Shia-Sunni attrition war.”
“I urge the Modi government to offer military and economic support to Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri Al-Maliki,” Dr. Swamy said in a statement issued on Thursday prior to his departure to China.
“The Government of India must now formulate a policy to deal with the long-term issue arising from the imminent Sunni-Shia attrition war. The policy must make clear on which side the Indian government will be since the outcome of this attrition war has far-reaching consequences for India. Hence, we cannot be non-aligned in our enlightened national interests,” he said.
Within India, Dr. Swamy said, the Hindu-Shia amity had been cordial for decades. “Even on the issue of Babri Masjid demolition, the Shia Muttwali [hereditary supervisor] of the Babri Mosque has agreed to give up any claim to the disputed site in favour of building a Ram Temple on Ram Janma Bhoomi.”
