NEW DELHI, Nov. 6 -- Whatever the political compulsions may be, India's abstention from the recent UN resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to cessation of hostilities" in Gaza is shockingly painful.

More so because UN being a toothless institution, its resolution has only a symbolic value. And the alibi for abstention -- non-inclusion of condemnation of Hamas' terrorist acts -- is simply silly.

Leave aside the current Gaza conflict, India has never given even two hoots for humane values. We have endless examples of our own bloody conflicts that begin from Mahabharata to deadly Kalinga war to bloody 1947 divide to 1984 genocide to 2002 Gujarat riots to the ongoing Manipur mayhem!

The ti...