New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday raised questions about India's silence after an Israeli minister threatened to "burn down the whole of Lebanon," underlining that this stance harms the country's interests.
In a sharply worded post on X, Ramesh noted that while the Iran-US peace pact has been welcomed with caution across the world, statements by senior Israeli leaders pose a threat to peace and security.
"The US-Iran MOU, which has been welcomed with caution around the world, is facing several threats. The biggest danger among these comes from Israel. A person holding a top position like Israel's Minister of National Security has just spoken of burning down the whole of Lebanon," he wrote.
Ramesh questioned India's silence and the Centre, saying, "But as always, the Modi government is completely silent. The Prime Minister's blind devotion to Israel is harming our country's interests, just so that the interests of the Modani empire remain secure in some way."
Israeli Minister's Threat
The comments come amid rising hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. In a highly inflammatory post on X, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, called for intensified military actions in Lebanon, drawing widespread condemnation.
"For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!" he wrote on X.
Ben-Gvir further stated, "With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn."
He emphasized that Israel's supreme duty is to protect its citizens and soldiers of the IDF, "and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration." He added, "Enough with the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you don't win with measured responses and restraint--you need to go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror."
Congress's Stance
Jairam Ramesh, who serves as the General Secretary in charge of Communications for the Congress party, has consistently criticized the Modi government's foreign policy approach, particularly its close ties with Israel. He argued that the government's silence on such provocative statements undermines India's diplomatic credibility and regional interests.
The Congress leader's remarks have sparked a political debate, with opposition parties demanding a clear response from the government regarding its position on the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
