BJP and Congress Clash Over India's Gaza Stance: Vote Bank vs Foreign Policy
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday responded to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's article criticising the government's position on the Gaza conflict, accusing her of misleading the public. The ruling party asserted that India has consistently articulated its stance, extended humanitarian aid, and supported United Nations resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
Ms. Gandhi, in an article published in The Indian Express, alleged that the Modi government's "stony silence and inaction on Israel's Gaza genocide" are morally reprehensible and against national interest. She claimed India has alienated itself from historical allies in Palestine, Iran, and West Asia, distanced from global public opinion, and allowed Pakistan to occupy the mediator role.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla countered that Ms. Gandhi's article reveals Congress's "vote bank policy" overriding foreign policy. He stated that India has not only articulated its position on Gaza and Palestine but also provided tangible humanitarian aid. He cited India's support for UN ceasefire resolutions and noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Palestine's highest civilian honour.
Mr. Poonawalla highlighted PM Modi's diplomatic outreach, saying he has maintained ties with countries on opposing sides of conflicts—Israel and Palestine, America and Russia, Western camp and Iran. He called this "all-alignment" rather than non-alignment. He also noted that Mr. Modi has received over 30 highest civilian honours from countries worldwide, many from Muslim-majority nations.
The BJP spokesperson alleged that Congress never developed relations with Israel due to "vote bank politics" and that Congress eulogises Hamas without condemning terror attacks on Israel. He claimed Congress speaks up for Muslims in Gaza but remains silent on Hindus in Dhaka, showing its foreign policy is guided by vote bank calculations.
In her article, Ms. Gandhi argued that Indian nationhood demands speaking up for Palestinian children and that national interest requires responding to global public opinion against Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The exchange highlights the ongoing political debate over India's foreign policy in the Middle East.
