Rajya Sabha MP and CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury on Sunday demanded that India, which is the largest buyer of Israeli armaments, must stop “financing” Israel by buying their armaments, in the interest of India and the world.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, during his visit to Goa to attend a meeting of the World Peace Council, Mr. Yechury said that the attacks on Palestine must be stopped.

In response to a question, Mr. Yechury said on this issue, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s patriotism will be tested.

“Countries who had military association with Israel have realized that their security mechanism was sabotaged”, said Mr. Nilotpal Basu, Politburo member of CPI(M), who was also present.

“If you talk of security, what India and Israel have common in security,” asked Mr. Yechury.

Later, when asked to respond to the statement of Mr. Yechury, Mr. Parriar who was addressing a press conference here on Sunday said that he would not like to respond to Mr. Yechury’s statement as he did not know about the statement and the total context in which it was made.

However, as far as arms procurements from other countries are concerned, decisions will be solely guided by the interest and concerns of the country, he said.

“My primary aim will be to protect the interest of the country and its security concerns”, said Mr. Parrikar.

On Saturday, Mr. Yechuri and Mr. Basu attended an international conference on “solidarity with struggle of Palestine people” organised by the World Peace Council and the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (Goa).

The conclave adopted a four-point Goa declaration, the first of which called for India to review its military ties with Israel as India's arms purchase provides direct subsidy to the Israeli arms industry.

The declaration demanded that India should not be party to any measure which provides physical support to the illegal occupation. It also called upon India to take the bold initiative to end the occupation of Palestine and allow Palestinians to have their own sovereign state with the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

The declaration also urged the people of India to redouble the solidarity with the people of Palestine in their quest for just peace and independent state.