Sonia Gandhi Slams Government Silence on Iran Leader’s Killing Amid US-Israel Strikes

Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday strongly criticised the government led by Narendra Modi over its silence following the targeted killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. She said the government’s lack of response was not neutrality but an “abdication of responsibility” that raises serious concerns about the direction and credibility of India’s foreign policy. The Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson also called for a detailed and open discussion in Parliament when it reconvenes for the second part of the Budget Session. She stressed that the government’s “disturbing silence” on what she described as a breakdown of the international order must be addressed without delay. In an article published in The Indian Express, Gandhi said there is an urgent need for India to rediscover its moral strength and express it with clarity and commitment. She noted that on March 1, Iran confirmed that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, had been killed a day earlier in targeted attacks carried out by the United States and Israel. She described the killing of a sitting head of state during ongoing engagements as a serious distortion in contemporary international relations. Gandhi further expressed concern that the development came within 48 hours of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel, where he had reiterated full support for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, at a time when global anger continues over the Gaza conflict. She alleged that India’s stance appeared to signal tacit approval of the incident. The Congress leader said her party has clearly condemned the bombings and killings on Iranian soil. She concluded by stating that India has long upheld the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which reflects a commitment to justice and restraint, and that remaining silent in such circumstances amounts to evading responsibility.