‘Russia Has Been India's True Friend’: Hindu Sena Takes Out March In Delhi Amid Ukraine Crisis

India has abstained from voting on the UN resolution deploring Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Image: Twitter/ @VishnuGupta_HS

New Delhi: As the crises between Russia and Ukraine continue to deepen, the volunteers of Hindu Sena, a right-wing organisation, held a march in the national capital on Sunday chanting slogans in support of Russia.

The workers of Hindu Sena assembled at central Delhi’s Connaught Place on Sunday to voice their support for Russia.

The volunteers were raising slogans including ‘Russia tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain (Russia, you fight, we are with you)’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, and ‘Bharat-Russia Dosti Zindabad’. They had been seen marching in the heart of the city for almost an hour.

Talking to The Indian Express, Hindu Sena national president Vishnu Gupta said, “Not getting into the official Indian stand at the United Nations, we personally think that India, rather than abstaining, should have voted in favour of Russia and put our boots on the ground to safeguard our citizens and support Russia against the fascist, racist Ukraine which has always supported Pakistan and had voted against our nuclear programme.”

He added: “No war is good, but if we have to choose between good and better, we would stand in support of Russia, as Russia has always been India's true friend.” 

The protesters were later asked to disperse as they had not obtained prior permission for the protest.

In their support to Russia, the Hindu Sena had earlier placed posters on a statue of Russian writer Alexander Pushkin in New Delhi’s Mandi House. The right-wing group supported Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and an “Akhand Russia”.

Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is showing no signs of an end even as the diplomatic efforts by world leaders continue to resolve the crises.

India abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution for the third time that strongly deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine. India's Permanent Representative to UN TS Tirumurti said differences could only be solved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also said that India supported the international community's call for an immediate ceasefire.

Explaining the reason behind the abstention, Tirumurti said the “safe and uninterrupted passage” of Indian nationals, especially students, was India’s “foremost priority”.

A number of India’s neighbour supported the resolution — Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives, for instance. Afghanistan, currently run by a militant organisation (the Taliban), and Myanmar, currently ruled by a military junta, also voted in favour of it. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also abstained from voting.