Conference on Nehru expresses support for Palestinians

The international conference on Jawaharlal Nehru Tuesday expressed its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and statehood.

The issue was raised by South African political activist and freedom fighter of Indian descent Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, who was one of the main speakers at the concluding session of the two-day conference.

The conference, held to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India's first prime minister, was attended by many Congress leaders and delegates from 20 countries and 29 political parties.

"The conference expresses its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and statehood," said the declaration adopted at its conclusion.

In his speech, Kathrada accused Israel of "colonising" people of the country.

"The lives of the Palestinian people (is) worse than what it was during apartheid," he said.

"He (Nehru) would have powerfully raised his voice for the struggle of the Palestinian people," Kathrada added.

He said Nehru served as a beacon for anti-colonialism and led other countries in imposing sanctions against the erstwhile regime in South Africa during the years of the anti-apartheid struggle.

"We will always remain grateful to Pandit Nehru for initiating isolation of the apartheid regime," he said.