The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday responded sharply to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her remarks concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The ruling party accused the Congress leader of expressing selective outrage and criticised her comments made ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi official visit to Israel.
The BJP referred to Priyanka Gandhi as the female Ghajini of Indian politics, drawing a comparison to the 2008 Hindi film Ghajini in which the lead character suffers from short term memory loss. According to BJP leaders, the remark was intended to suggest that Gandhi was focusing solely on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while overlooking the October 7 attacks carried out in Israel.
The criticism followed Priyanka Gandhi public statement in which she said she hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would raise the issue of what she described as genocide in Gaza while addressing the Israeli Parliament. She also expressed the expectation that India would speak for justice and humanitarian concerns during the Prime Minister diplomatic engagements in Israel.
Responding to her statement, BJP spokespersons said that condemning the October 7 attacks requires moral clarity and courage. They alleged that the Congress leader had failed to acknowledge the scale and impact of those attacks while highlighting the suffering in Gaza. The party maintained that India position on international conflicts has consistently supported peace, dialogue and the protection of civilian lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Israel comes at a time when tensions in the region continue to attract global attention. India has maintained diplomatic relations with both Israel and Palestine and has historically advocated a balanced approach that supports a two state solution through dialogue and negotiation. Officials have reiterated that India condemns terrorism in all forms while also emphasising humanitarian assistance and regional stability.
The exchange between the BJP and Priyanka Gandhi reflects the broader political debate within India regarding foreign policy and humanitarian issues. While the Congress has urged the government to adopt a stronger public stance on civilian casualties in Gaza, the BJP has defended the government diplomatic approach, stating that India foreign policy decisions are guided by strategic interests and long term peace objectives.
Political analysts note that statements concerning international conflicts often become subjects of domestic political debate, particularly when high level diplomatic visits are involved. Prime Minister Modi two day visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence, technology, trade and security.
As the situation in West Asia continues to evolve, India engagement with both Israel and Palestine remains under close observation. Government sources have indicated that India will continue to call for restraint, de escalation and the protection of civilians, while maintaining its long standing diplomatic ties in the region.
