Owaisi Condemns PM Modi's Israel Visit as Untimely Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Tensions
Hyderabad: AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Israel, labeling it as untimely and alleging that it compromised India's long-standing neutral foreign policy stance. This criticism comes against the backdrop of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which has seen recent attacks and heightened regional instability.
Allegations of Undermining Neutrality
Owaisi argued that the Prime Minister's visit, occurring just days before Tel Aviv launched an attack on Tehran, sent a "very wrong message" to the international community, suggesting that India was aligning itself with Israel. He demanded immediate clarification from the government regarding its position on the matter. "India has historically maintained a neutral and balanced position on the West Asian issue for over eight decades," Owaisi stated, questioning the wisdom of departing from this stance during such a sensitive period.
Concerns for Indian Diaspora and National Legacy
Addressing reporters, the AIMIM leader highlighted the significant Indian population in Gulf countries, noting that nearly 10 million Indians reside there. He expressed concern over the potential repercussions, asking what message it would convey to ordinary citizens in these nations if Israel attacked Iran shortly after the Prime Minister's visit concluded. "The Prime Minister and the BJP should understand what happened to our 80-year legacy of neutrality on this matter. PM Modi and the BJP should answer these questions," Owaisi emphasized.
He further alleged that Israel exploited Modi's visit to assert global support, calling it a "betrayal" of India's diplomatic history. Additionally, Owaisi raised pointed questions about whether the Prime Minister had prior knowledge of the impending attack. "If the PM's aircraft was in the air and such an attack took place, who would be responsible? He should tell the country whether Netanyahu informed him that Israel was going to attack Iran," he demanded, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Broader Implications for Foreign Policy
This incident has sparked a broader debate on India's foreign policy direction, with critics like Owaisi urging a return to the traditional neutral stance that has characterized the nation's approach to West Asian conflicts. The timing of the visit, amid volatile regional dynamics, has raised alarms about potential shifts in diplomatic alignments and their impact on India's global standing and diaspora safety.
