Cong Slams PM Modi's "Stony Silence" on Israel Amid Netanyahu's "India Support" Claim
Cong Slams PM Modi's "Stony Silence" on Israel Amid Netanyahu's "India Support" Claim
The Congress party launches a scathing attack on PM Modi for his "unconscionable" silence regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, calling it a "betrayal." Netanyahu's claims of Indian support add fuel to the political debate
The Indian National Congress has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing his "stony silence" on Israel's actions in Gaza. The opposition party labeled Modi's quiet stance as "unconscionable" and a "betrayal" of India's foundational values, especially after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed significant support from India.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh spearheaded the criticism, stating that "the self-styled, award-hungry Vishwaguru's stony silence on Israel's actions is a betrayal of India's civilisational ethos and values." He further asserted that "it is simply unconscionable." Ramesh's remarks came in response to Netanyahu's statement on Fox News, where the Israeli PM countered American Vice President JD Vance's suggestion that the US was Israel's sole powerful ally. Netanyahu specifically mentioned India, stating, "We have some other friends, like a small country called India, you know, it has 1.4 billion people and, boy, do we have tremendous support there."
The Congress party strongly refuted Netanyahu's claim, with Ramesh declaring, "Mr Netanyahu is wrong." The party highlighted that while "Israel is embedded in the Modani empire and Mr Narendra Modi is blindly devoted to him," millions of Indians condemn Israel's actions. The Congress specifically cited "Israel's genocide in Gaza that has not spared even children, its forcible dispossession and displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, its heavy aerial bombardments of Iran that has included targeted assassinations, and its brutal military offensive in southern Lebanon." They categorized these as "assaults on humanity itself."
Furthermore, Ramesh dismissed any perceived endorsement from Netanyahu as irrelevant, stating that "getting a certificate from Netanyahu is no badge of honour." He underscored Netanyahu's own isolated position, noting that the Israeli PM has "evoked frustration and anger even from Mr. PM Modi's good friend in the White House himself," an apparent reference to former US President Donald Trump. This aligns with Vance's earlier comments last month, urging Israel to respect US-Iran peace talks.
The Congress's stern condemnation underscores a significant political divide within India regarding the conflict, emphasizing a stance rooted in humanitarian concerns and historical ethos, contrasting sharply with the Israeli leader's portrayal of India's unwavering support.
