India 's new ruling coalition has said it will take steps to withdraw "Indian mercenaries" from Iraq while reiterating the country's "decades old commitment" to the Palestinian cause. "Steps will be taken to withdraw Indian mercenaries from Iraq while further recruitment for this purpose will be barred," said the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for governance of the Congress-led coalition, backed by the left parties. The CMP was released Thursday by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi at a crowded press conference at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7, Race Course Road office. The reference to "Indian mercenaries" comes in the wake of news reports that hundreds of retired Indian Army and paramilitary personnel had enlisted themselves with US troops in Iraq without the knowledge of the Indian government. | Mercenaries = private security contractors |
On Palestine , the CMP said: "The UPA government reiterates India 's decades old commitment to the cause of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own." Doubts about India 's historic support for the Palestinian cause had arisen following the burgeoning relationship with Israel and what was seen by the opposition parties as a reluctance on the part of the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to condemn Israeli highhandedness against Palestinians. | Wonder if they mean it or it's just political window dressing? We'll see if they cancel any of the weapons contracts such as the radar planes. |
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