Sonia Gandhi Accuses Centre of 'Stony Silence' on Gaza
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi published an article in The Indian Express on Saturday, June 27, 2026, sharply criticizing the Narendra Modi government for its perceived inaction on the Gaza conflict. Gandhi alleged that the government's 'stony silence and inaction on Israel's Gaza genocide' are not just 'morally reprehensible' but also 'inexplicable from a national interest perspective'.
In her article, Gandhi stated that India has alienated itself from historical allies in Palestine, Iran, and the broader Middle East, distanced itself from global public opinion, and allowed Pakistan to occupy the role of a mediator in the conflict. She argued that the spirit of Indian nationhood demands the country speak up for Palestinians whose children have been 'so brutally targeted', and that national interest demands a response to global public opinion against what she termed the Israeli regime's 'genocidal actions' in Gaza and its 'brutal displacement and dispossession' of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank.
BJP Responds: Accuses Congress of 'Vote Bank Politics'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly hit back at Gandhi's claims. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla released a video statement accusing the Congress of prioritizing 'vote bank policy' over 'foreign policy'. He alleged that Gandhi's article aimed to 'misinform and conceal the real truth' about India's position on Gaza and Palestine.
Poonawalla asserted that India has consistently articulated its stand on the Gaza and Palestine issue on multiple occasions, provided tangible humanitarian aid, and voted in favor of United Nations resolutions calling for a ceasefire. He highlighted that the highest civilian honor of Palestine has been conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring India's diplomatic engagement.
Modi's 'All-Alignment' Diplomacy
The BJP spokesperson praised PM Modi's diplomatic outreach, stating that Modi has been able to maintain ties with countries on opposing sides of global conflicts. 'It is Prime Minister Modi who has been able to navigate a fine line and talk to both Israel and Palestine at the same time, to America, Russia and Ukraine at the same time, and to the Western camp and Iran at the same time. This is not a policy of non-alignment but of all-alignment,' Poonawalla said.
He noted that Modi has received more than 30 highest civilian honors from countries worldwide, with a large number coming from Muslim-majority nations. This, he argued, demonstrates the success of India's foreign policy under the current government.
Congress's Historical Stance on Israel
Poonawalla further alleged that Congress governments never developed relations with Israel due to the party's 'vote bank politics'. He accused the Congress of eulogizing, platforming, and sympathizing with Hamas while never categorically condemning the terror attacks on Israel. 'The problem is that the Congress always practises vote bank politics in foreign policy. In the name of vote bank politics, it never developed relations with Israel,' he said.
He also claimed that while the Congress speaks up for Muslims in Gaza and Rafah, it remains silent on Hindus in Dhaka, indicating that even its foreign policy is guided by 'vote bank politics'.
Context and Impact
The exchange between the Congress and BJP highlights the deep political divide over India's foreign policy stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Gandhi's article comes amid ongoing international criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement. India has historically supported the Palestinian cause but has also strengthened ties with Israel under the Modi government, balancing relations with both sides.
According to the United Nations, the conflict has led to over 35,000 Palestinian casualties, including many children, and displaced more than 1.5 million people. India has provided humanitarian aid worth $10 million to Palestine and voted for UN ceasefire resolutions. However, Gandhi's criticism suggests that the government's actions have not matched its rhetoric, a charge the BJP strongly denies.
