India’s stand on the war on Ukraine

Context

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

• It has placed considerable moral responsibility on India.
• However, at the United Nations (UN), India has refused to condemn the violation of the rights of the Ukrainians.

What the editorial is about?

• By continuing to see herself as the world’s teacher, India cannot refuse to take a stand on the invasion of Ukraine.
• The need for India to take a long view of how it wants to engage with it.

India’s abstention and the arguments for and against

• It would be natural for observers to equate the actions of the state in a democracy with the will of the people.
• So, as we are a democracy, the Indian government’s abstention in the UN Security Council vote on Ukraine is sure to rebound on Indians in their interaction wi