New Delhi: As the conflict in West Asia entered its fourth day, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi criticised the Indian government’s response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint United States and Israel strike.
In an opinion article published in The Indian Express, Gandhi described the assassination of a sitting head of state during ongoing negotiations as a serious rupture in international relations. She wrote that Iran confirmed the killing on March 1 following a targeted strike carried out a day earlier. According to her, New Delhi’s restrained reaction was as striking as the event itself.
Gandhi argued that the government did not explicitly condemn the assassination or address what she termed a violation of Iranian sovereignty. She noted that the Prime Minister’s Office issued a brief condolence message that avoided reference to the circumstances of the death, and that no further clarification followed despite strong global reactions.
The Congress leader contended that the silence marked a shift from India’s traditional foreign policy principles rooted in sovereignty, non intervention and respect for international law. She said India had historically opposed targeted killings and extra territorial use of force across regions, including West Asia and Latin America.
Gandhi warned that failing to speak clearly could undermine India’s credibility as a leading voice of the Global South and weaken its claim to strategic autonomy in a rules based multipolar world. She added that while India has strengthened ties with Israel in defence and technology, partnerships should not come at the expense of core principles.
Reacting to the article, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the absence of a firm stance raises concerns about the direction of India’s foreign policy. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also supported the remarks, calling the government’s silence significant.
The conflict escalated on February 28 when US and Israeli forces struck Iranian strategic sites, triggering a broader regional crisis.
