Congress Parliamentary Celebration chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday criticised India’s silence on Israel’s offensive in Gaza and Iran as “not only a lack of its voice, but in addition a give up of values”.
In an article printed in The Hindu titled ‘It’s nonetheless not too late for India’s voice to be heard’, Gandhi mentioned the Narendra Modi authorities had deserted India’s “long-standing and principled dedication to a peaceable two-nation resolution” envisioning an unbiased Palestine together with Israel.
“It’s nonetheless not too late. India should communicate clearly, act responsibly, and use each diplomatic channel out there to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue in West Asia,” wrote Gandhi within the article.
She additionally criticised US President Donald Trump for following a “harmful path” in West Asia, after having spoken towards America’s countless wars. “What’s deeply regrettable is that the U.S. President Donald Trump — who as soon as spoke out towards America’s countless wars and the affect of the military-industrial advanced — now seems prepared to comply with this harmful path,” she wrote.
“New Delhi’s silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation towards Iran displays a disturbing departure from our ethical and diplomatic traditions. This represents not only a lack of voice but in addition a give up of values,” the Congress chief mentioned in her article.
She additionally mentioned that within the face of this humanitarian disaster, “the Narendra Modi authorities has all however deserted India’s long-standing and principled dedication to a peaceable two-state resolution, one which envisions a sovereign, unbiased Palestine residing side-by-side with Israel in mutual safety and dignity”.
Gandhi famous that on June 13, 2025, the world has, as soon as once more, “witnessed the damaging penalties of unilateral militarism when Israel launched a deeply troubling and illegal strike towards Iran and its sovereignty”.
She mentioned the Indian Nationwide Congress has condemned these bombings and focused assassinations on Iranian soil, which represents a harmful escalation with grave regional and international penalties.
“As with so a lot of Israel’s latest actions, together with its brutal and disproportionate marketing campaign in Gaza, this operation was executed with utter disregard for civilian lives and regional stability. These actions will solely deepen instability and sow the seeds of additional battle,” she wrote.
Gandhi additionally alleged that the present Israeli management underneath Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has an extended and unlucky document of undermining peace and nurturing extremism”.
She claimed that given the document, “it isn’t stunning that Netanyahu would select escalation over engagement”.
Referring to the US President, she mentioned, Trump’s June 17 assertion dismissing its personal intelligence chief’s evaluation and claiming that Iran was “very shut” to buying nuclear weapons is “deeply disappointing”.
“The world expects and wishes management that’s grounded in details and pushed by diplomacy, and never by drive or falsehoods,” she mentioned.
Gandhi mentioned Iran has been a long-standing good friend to India and is certain to us by deep civilisational ties. “It has a historical past of steadfast help, together with in Jammu and Kashmir at essential junctures. In 1994, Iran helped block a decision important of India on the UN Fee on Human Rights on the Kashmir difficulty,” she famous.
“Certainly, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been way more cooperative with India than its predecessor, the Imperial State of Iran, that had tilted in the direction of Pakistan within the 1965 and 1971 wars,” she added.
Mentioning the India-Israel strategic relations in latest a long time, she mentioned, “This distinctive place offers our nation the ethical accountability and the diplomatic leverage to behave as a bridge for de-escalation and peace.”
“This isn’t merely an summary precept. Lakhs of Indian residents live and dealing throughout West Asia, which makes peace within the area a difficulty of important nationwide curiosity,” she mentioned.
“Israel’s latest actions towards Iran have taken place in an environment of impunity, enabled by near-unconditional help from highly effective western nations,” Gandhi added.
She mentioned that the Congress had unequivocally condemned the “completely horrific and completely unacceptable assaults” by Hamas on October 7, 2023, however “we can’t stay silent within the face of Israel’s catastrophic and disproportionate response”.
“Greater than 55,000 Palestinians have misplaced their lives. Total households, neighbourhoods, and even hospitals have been obliterated. Gaza stands on the point of famine, and its civilian inhabitants continues to undergo unspeakable hardship,” she added.