Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 21: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has strongly criticised the Indian government for its silence on the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, calling it a "diplomatic lapse" and a betrayal of India's “moral and strategic traditions.”
In a hard-hitting Op-Ed published in The Hindu, Gandhi denounced Israel’s June 13 military strike on Iranian territory as “illegal and a violation of sovereignty,” warning that the attacks have sparked dangerous regional escalations.
“The Indian National Congress has condemned these bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil… these actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict,” she wrote, slamming the operation as yet another example of Israel’s disregard for civilian life and regional peace.
The Israeli strikes targeted key Iranian military installations at a time when fragile progress was being made in nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Gandhi pointed out that five rounds of talks had already taken place in 2025, with a sixth scheduled for later this month.
She also drew attention to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “history of fanning hatred,” noting his role in the political climate that led to the 1995 assassination of Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin.
Turning her criticism toward US President Donald Trump, Gandhi accused him of ignoring his own intelligence agencies and pursuing reckless foreign policy moves. “Mr Trump… appears to be repeating the same mistakes that led to the war in Iraq,” she wrote, alluding to the false WMD claims that preceded the 2003 invasion.
Sonia Gandhi highlighted India’s unique position as a friend to both Israel and Iran, underlining the historic civilisational and strategic ties with Tehran. She recalled Iran’s 1994 support for India at the UN Human Rights Commission over Kashmir and said it had been “more cooperative” with India than the pre-revolution regime.
She also referenced the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) following the US withdrawal in 2018, which significantly impacted India’s interests, especially around the Chabahar Port and the North-South transport corridor.
On Gaza, Gandhi painted a grim picture: “More than 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. Entire families, neighbourhoods, and even hospitals have been obliterated. Gaza stands on the brink of famine.”
Calling on India to reassert its diplomatic role, Gandhi urged the Modi government to speak out and revive its commitment to a peaceful two-state solution. “New Delhi’s silence… reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions,” she wrote, adding, “It is still not too late. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions.”
Her statement came hours after Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, urged India and other countries to condemn Israel’s “military aggression,” calling it a “breach of international law” with serious regional repercussions.
As tensions soar in West Asia, Gandhi’s remarks have placed the spotlight squarely on India’s foreign policy response, or lack thereof, amid a growing global crisis.