In a scathing critique published in The Hindu, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has accused the Modi government of abandoning India’s historic commitment to the Palestinian cause, driven by what she calls a personal friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Titled “India’s Muted Voice, Its Detachment with Palestine,” her article condemns the government’s “profound silence” on the Israel-Palestine conflict as a betrayal of India’s constitutional values and moral compass. Gandhi argues that India, once a global champion of justice and self-determination, has relinquished its leadership role, prioritizing personalized diplomacy over principled foreign policy.
Gandhi highlights India’s storied history of advocating for oppressed nations, from supporting the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa before Independence to championing Algeria’s freedom struggle in the 1950s and intervening to prevent genocide in East Pakistan in 1971, which birthed Bangladesh. She notes that India was among the first to formally recognize Palestinian statehood in 1988, building on decades of support for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). However, since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, triggered by Hamas’s brutal attacks on Israeli civilians and Israel’s devastating response, India’s voice has been conspicuously absent. Gandhi describes Israel’s actions as “genocidal,” citing over 55,000 Palestinian deaths, including 17,000 children, and the obliteration of Gaza’s infrastructure, with famine-like conditions exacerbated by restricted aid.
The Congress leader points to recent global shifts, with countries like France, the UK, Canada, Portugal, and Australia recognizing Palestinian statehood, joining over 150 UN member states. She praises these moves as affirmations of justice and human rights, urging India to reclaim its role as a moral leader. Gandhi criticizes the Modi government’s recent actions, including signing a bilateral investment agreement with Israel and hosting its controversial far-right finance minister, known for inciting violence against Palestinians. These decisions, she argues, reflect a troubling alignment with Israel at the expense of India’s historical empathy for Palestine’s struggle, which mirrors India’s own colonial past of displacement and exploitation.
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Gandhi’s article, her third on the Israel-Palestine issue in recent months, underscores the urgency of addressing Palestine’s plight as a matter of dignity, identity, and human rights. She paints a grim picture of Gaza’s suffering, with civilians shot while seeking food and aid deliberately obstructed, calling such acts “revolting inhumanity.” The global community’s slow response, she warns, risks legitimizing Israel’s actions, while India’s silence amounts to complicity. Gandhi rejects the notion that foreign policy can be driven by one leader’s personal ties, citing Modi’s failed attempts at similar diplomacy elsewhere, such as in the United States, as “painful and humiliating” missteps.
As the world marks a historic moment with growing recognition of Palestinian statehood, Gandhi calls on India to act with courage and historical continuity. She frames Palestine’s struggle as a test of India’s ethical and civilizational heritage, urging the nation to translate empathy into action. The Palestinian people, enduring decades of occupation, settlement expansion, and assaults on their rights, deserve India’s unwavering support, she asserts. With the Modi government’s stance drawing increasing scrutiny, Gandhi’s words serve as a clarion call for India to rediscover its voice and lead with principle on the global stage.
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