In March, as his BJP party headed for a decisive election victory, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi struck a statesman’s tone in a speech to his party workers in New Delhi. Explaining his decision to abstain from a UN General Assembly resolution to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, he said: “India is on the side of peace and hopes that all problems are resolved with deliberations.”
But beyond Modi’s 'Give peace a chance' narrative was another more relevant explanation. “India has a connection with countries involved in the war – economically, security-wise, education-wise and politically as well,” he said. “India’s several needs are connected to these countries.”
