Sushma Swaraj Says India Won't Take Sides As Gaza Toll Rises To 518

BJD, however, did not join them.

Earlier, responding point-by-point to the issues raised by the opposition members during the debate, Swaraj asserted that the country's policy on Palestine remains unchanged and attacked the opposition for casting aspersions on the Modi government.

"There is absolutely no change in India's policy towards Palestine, which is that we fully support the Palestinian cause while maintaining good relations with Israel," the minister said and emphasised that this policy has been in vogue through various governments including those of Congress, BJP and coalition governments headed by Deve Gowda and IK Gujral. She also rejected the demand by some opposition parties that India should stop purchase of military equipment from Israel.

Sushma Swaraj rejected the contention of leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad that India had been late in reacting to the Gaza violence as the debate was not allowed to take place last week.

She said while the debate had been listed in the House on July 16, India had already given its reaction on the matter a day earlier in the joint statement of BRICS attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Brazilian city of Fortaleza.

While specifying India's policy on Palestine issue, Swaraj recited the poems of renowned lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi.