India votes against draft decision on chemical weapons use at OPCW meet

India has voted against the draft decision on addressing the threat from chemical weapons use, citing incomplete consultations. 

India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Venu Rajamony voted against the draft decision at a special conference of the Organisation at The Hague, in the Netherlands.

Mr Rajamony said, it has been India's consistent position that the use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances, cannot be justified and the perpetrators of such abhorrent acts must be held accountable.

He said, all investigations of the alleged use of chemical weapons should be



conducted in an impartial and objective manner and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. The Ambassador, however, said they have studied the draft very carefully and believe that on an issue of such grave importance, the consultations conducted by the sponsors remain incomplete.

The conference has been called by the UK, the US and the West to have discussions on upholding the global ban against the use of chemical weapons.

The UK has reportedly proposed to consider empowering the OPCW to identify the organisation or government responsible for chemical attacks in addition to its existing power of carrying out the investigation into such cases.