Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday strongly criticized India’s silence on the attacks in Israeli and Iran. He called it “not only the loss of voice, but the dedication of values”. In his article ‘It is still late that India’s voice was heard’, Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government that he had abandoned India’s long-standing theoretical commitment of a peaceful two-nation solution imagining an independent Palestine with Israel.
Gandhi described the air strike on Iran by Israel on 13 June 2025 as “illegal and sovereignty”, after which a series of drone and missile attacks began between the two countries. He said, “Like many recent actions of Israel, including a cruel and inconsistent campaign in Gaza, this operation was performed with the fully disregard of the lives of citizens and the regional stability of the citizens.” He referred to the Indian National Congress to condemn these bombing and targeted murders on Iran’s land, which represents a dangerous growth with regional and global consequences.
He also criticized the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that it is “a long and unfortunate record to weaken peace and nurture insurgency”. Gandhi alleged that Netanyahu “chose the growth rather than the attachment.” Referring to the human crisis in Gaza, he said that more than 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and the entire area is on the verge of starvation.
US President Donald Trump was also criticized by Gandhi. He described Trump’s statement on 17 June as “extremely disappointing”, in which he rejected his intelligence chief’s assessment claiming that Iran was “very close” to receive nuclear weapons. Gandhi said, “The world is expecting and needs of leadership that is based on facts and inspired by diplomacy, not force or lies.”
Gandhi emphasized the historical and cultural relations between India and Iran, which referred to Iran’s support to the United Nations Human Rights Commission on the Kashmir issue in 1994. He said, “India should speak clearly, act responsibly and use every diplomatic channel to reduce tension in West Asia and promote dialogue.” He also said that India should advocate the rights of the people of Palestine while maintaining friendly relations with Israel.
