The major opposition parties in India have launched a sharp condemnation of the recent military operation conducted by the United States, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The incident, which unfolded over the past weekend, has triggered strong political reactions in New Delhi, with the Indian National Congress (INC) expressing deep alarm and a coalition of five Left parties calling for nationwide protests against perceived American aggression.
Congress Voices Grave Concern Over International Law Violation
Leading the charge from the principal opposition, Congress general secretary and communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh issued a stern statement. He declared that the INC views the US actions in Venezuela over the past 24 hours with very grave concern. Ramesh emphasized that established principles of international law are not subject to unilateral violation, implicitly accusing the United States of overstepping legal boundaries. The statement underscores a firm stance on the sanctity of national sovereignty within the global order.
Left Parties Decry 'Kidnapping', Announce Nationwide Protests
In a more forceful response, a united front of five Left parties—the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(M-L) Liberation, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)—issued a joint statement. They outright criticised the US for its aggression against Venezuela, labelling the apprehension of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as a kidnapping and an attack on a sovereign nation. The parties asserted that this act constitutes a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter.
The Left bloc pointed to statements from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as revealing the true motives behind the operation. They cited Trump's mention of capturing Venezuelan oil reserves and Rubio's warnings to Cuba and Mexico as evidence of imperialist designs. Linking the event to the recently released US National Security Strategy 2025, the parties argued it exposes a clear intent by US imperialism to impose global hegemony, even through military means. They framed it as an extension of a Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, treating the Western Hemisphere as an American backyard.
Call for Indian Government and Public Mobilisation
Asserting solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who they claim are mobilising in large numbers against the US, the Left parties have thrown their weight behind the cause. They have formally called for nationwide protests across India to denounce the American action. Furthermore, they have put direct pressure on the ruling NDA government at the Centre, demanding it join the international voices of dissent and stand firmly in solidarity with Venezuela.
In their appeal, the parties urged all peace-loving and anti-imperialist citizens of India to participate actively in the planned protests. They called upon the Government of India to unequivocally condemn the US aggression alongside other nations across the world. This political development highlights how a major international event has quickly reverberated into India's domestic political discourse, with opposition parties seeking to hold the government to account on its foreign policy stance. The statements were released from New Delhi on January 5, 2026.
