Sonia Gandhi, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, on Saturday strongly criticised the Central government on its stance on the Middle East Situation, including in Gaza and Iran.
Accusing the Modi government of being silent on Israel’s devastation in Gaza and Iran, she termed it as “not just a loss of its voice, but also a surrender of values”.
In an article, she wrote, “It is still not too late for India’s voice to be heard”. She accused the government of abandoning India’s long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-nation solution envisioning an independent Palestine along with Israel.
She said, “The Narendra Modi government has all but abandoned India’s long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-state solution, one that envisions a sovereign, independent Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in mutual security and dignity.”
“New Delhi’s silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values,” the Congress leader said in her article in ‘The Hindu’.
“It is still not too late. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue in West Asia,” Gandhi asserted. Gandhi also criticised US President Donald Trump for following a “destructive path” in West Asia, after having spoken against America’s endless wars.
Slamming the Israeli leadership under Benjamin Netanyahu, she alleged that he “has a long and unfortunate record of undermining peace and nurturing extremism”. She alleged that given the record, “it is not surprising that Netanyahu would choose escalation over engagement”.
Referring to the US President, she said, Trump’s statement dismissing his own intelligence chief’s assessment and claiming that Iran was “very close” to acquiring nuclear weapons is “deeply disappointing”.
“The world expects and needs leadership that is grounded in facts and driven by diplomacy, and not by force or falsehoods,” she said.
Highlighting Iran’s long-standing backing of India, Gandhi recalled a 1994 incident when Iran helped block a resolution against India in the UN Commission of Human Rights on the Kashmir issue. She also added that the current Iranian regime is more friendly to India than its predecessor.
“It has a history of steadfast support, including in Jammu and Kashmir at crucial junctures. In 1994, Iran helped block a resolution critical of India at the UN Commission on Human Rights on the Kashmir issue,” she noted. “Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been much more cooperative with India than its predecessor, the Imperial State of Iran, that had tilted towards Pakistan in the 1965 and 1971 wars,” she added.
Referring to the India-Israel strategic relations in recent decades, she said, “This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace.”