Key facts
- Sonia Gandhi op-ed calls India's Gaza silence 'stony' and inexplicable
- BJP accused Gandhi of 'vote bank' politics in response
- India has maintained a calibrated, non-critical stance toward Israel
- Exchange marks sharp opposition-government clash on foreign policy
Sonia Gandhi launched a pointed public attack on the Modi government on Friday, writing an op-ed that described India's stance on the conflict in Gaza as a "stony silence" that she said "cannot be explained". The Congress leader's intervention represents some of the sharpest criticism of the government's foreign policy from within the opposition in recent months.
Gandhi's op-ed, which drew wide attention, argued that India — traditionally a voice for the oppressed and a supporter of the Palestinian cause at the United Nations — had abdicated its moral responsibility by staying silent as casualties mounted in Gaza. She cast herself as a "lone voice" raising the issue in Indian public discourse.
The BJP was quick to respond, with party spokespersons accusing Gandhi of writing the piece to appeal to Muslim voters, labelling her criticism as "vote bank" politics rather than a principled foreign policy position. The exchange rapidly escalated into a full-blown political controversy, with both sides trading accusations on social media and in press briefings.
India has maintained a carefully calibrated position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, generally calling for restraint and a two-state solution while avoiding direct criticism of Israel — a departure from India's historically more pro-Palestinian stance. The Gandhi-BJP spat brings that shift back into sharp public focus at a time when PM Modi is abroad on a state visit.