The BJP on Saturday slammed Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi over her article criticizing the Centre’s “silence” on Gaza.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Sonia of reducing India’s foreign policy to a “vote bank neti” and defended the Union government, saying India today maintains ties with both Israel and Palestine. “Those who write articles about Gaza, tweet about Rafah, and carry bags are eloquently silent about Hindus in Dhaka. This shows that even Videsh Niti has become a subject of Niti vote bank,” Poonawalla said.
He added: “They praise Hamas, but they have no word to say about the deadly terrorist attacks in Israel… For years, no relations with Israel have been maintained for vote bank considerations.”
“Politics of pluralism”
Poonawalla said that India currently maintains good relations with Israel and Palestine, while highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the highest civilian award in Palestine. “Today we are in a situation where we are talking to both Israel and Palestine. The highest civilian award for Palestine has been given to Prime Minister Modi… We have seen that whether it is Russia or Ukraine, whether it is America or Iran, India is in a unique position where it can talk to everyone…” Poonawalla said.
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He also accused Sonia of “misleading and putting out the vote bank Niti or Videsh Niti”. He added that New Delhi does not follow a “non-aligned policy.” Poonawalla said: “…This is not a policy of non-alignment. It is a policy of multiple or all biases.”
What Sonia Gandhi said
Criticizing the Modi government, Sonia said India’s response to the Gaza conflict was against its “morals” and “national interests.”
Sonia said in an opinion article published by the newspaper “Haaretz” that “senior Israeli leaders, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior colleagues in the government themselves, called for a ‘total siege’ and ‘total annihilation’ of Gaza.” Indian Express. Gandhi said that while Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 was “treacherous” and “completely unacceptable,” Israel’s subsequent military response was characterized by “deliberate cruelty and barbarism.”
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She also added that India “remains the only voice of silence” and described this as “morally reprehensible”. “Our sacrifices of our strategic interests and morals have yielded nothing but friendship between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is now under attack around the world, including the United States of America,” Sonia said.
