BJP Defends Foreign Policy Amid Congress Criticism on Gaza Conflict
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s criticism regarding the Centre’s response to the Gaza conflict on Saturday, accusing the Congress of prioritizing “vote bank politics” in its foreign policy decisions.
This backlash followed Gandhi’s commentary in The Indian Express, where she claimed that the Modi government had maintained silence on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and had aligned India more closely with Israel, deviating from its established foreign policy principles.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala addressed reporters, dismissing Gandhi’s accusations and stating that India had consistently expressed its stance on the Israel-Palestine issue at international bodies, besides providing humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza.
He asserted, “The problem is that Congress always puts vote bank on foreign policy and therefore, they, in the name of vote bank politics, never developed any relations with Israel.” Poonawala emphasized India’s diplomatic actions by recalling the nation’s votes at the United Nations on resolutions advocating for a ceasefire, alongside acknowledging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received the highest civilian honour from Palestine.
He further pointed out a perceived inconsistency in Gandhi’s rhetoric, stating, “Sonia Gandhi speaks up for the Muslims in Gaza, they tweet about Rafa, but they are silent on Hindus in Dhaka. This shows that for them, even foreign policy is calculated on the table, on the calculus of vote bank.”
Sonia Gandhi’s Concerns
In her opinion piece, Gandhi described the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel as “dastardly, horrific, and absolutely unacceptable.” However, she argued that Israel’s subsequent military response has been characterized by “wanton cruelty and barbarity.” She referenced findings from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, alleging that Israeli actions in Gaza could be deemed genocidal and had disproportionately impacted children.
Addressing the Commission’s latest report, spearheaded by retired Justice S. Muralidhar, Gandhi highlighted the extensive destruction of educational institutions, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructures in Gaza, as well as the significant casualties among children resulting from the conflict.
Gandhi criticized the Modi administration for its failure to respond to these findings and asserted that India has deviated from its traditionally principled foreign policy, which was built on post-colonial solidarity, national sovereignty, and advocacy for the Palestinian cause.
India’s Foreign Policy Shift
She emphasized that India had turned into “a lone voice of silence” in contrast to several nations, including traditional Western allies of Israel, that have begun recognizing Palestinian statehood, limiting arms sales to Israel, or supporting legal steps against Israeli leaders.
Moreover, Sonia Gandhi expressed concerns that India’s increasing strategic alignment with Israel has been at the expense of its historical relationships with Palestine, Iran, and broader Middle Eastern nations. She questioned the timing of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel just before the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, suggesting that this shift in policy has weakened India’s diplomatic standing in the region.
In closing, Gandhi argued that both moral imperatives and India’s national interests necessitate a more assertive stance from New Delhi regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging the government to articulate a clearer position on the ongoing conflict.
In response to these assertions, the BJP reaffirmed that India’s foreign policy remains balanced and steadfast, integrating support for a negotiated two-state solution with humanitarian aid for Palestinians while enhancing ties with Israel.
