New Delhi, Dec 5: In response to questions regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Thursday that India is not a member of the ICC.
Jaishankar explained during the Rajya Sabha’s Question Hour, “When the ICC was constituted, the question of our membership was considered for very good reasons; after considerable deliberation, India decided not to become a member.” He further clarified that decisions made by the ICC are not binding on India due to its non-membership.
He emphasized that the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Netanyahu does not pertain to India’s formal stance, as the country has not taken a position on the matter.
The discussion also caused brief disruptions in the Rajya Sabha when BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi raised concerns about the timing of certain reports published just before the Parliament session. He pointed out the Hindenburg report, the BBC documentary The Modi Question, and the recent indictment of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani by the US Justice Department. Trivedi’s speech led to opposition protests, particularly as he continued speaking past his allotted time, causing the adjournment of the House until 12 noon. Proceedings resumed after the brief break.
