Sonia Gandhi’s Indian Express op-ed criticises India’s silence on Gaza, urging independent foreign policy, as Rahul Gandhi backs call for moral clarity and balanced diplomacy, reports India Daily News Desk
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s opinion piece published in The Indian Express on Saturday has triggered a fresh political row, with the Congress leadership sharply criticising the Modi government’s approach to the Gaza conflict and foreign policy neutrality.
In the article, titled “India remains silent on Gaza, while the world continues to speak up”, Sonia Gandhi argues that India’s current stance on the Israel–Gaza war represents a departure from its traditional diplomatic principles. She writes that India’s response is “silent and inaction-driven”, and says this approach is inconsistent with both its moral traditions and national interest.
Citing international reports and UN-linked assessments referenced in the column, she highlights the scale of civilian casualties and humanitarian damage in Gaza, particularly the impact on children, education infrastructure and healthcare systems. She argues that the targeting of children is not incidental but part of a broader pattern of devastation, and warns that global opinion is increasingly critical of Israel’s military actions.
A key theme of the op-ed is India’s historical foreign policy positioning. Sonia Gandhi says India was once associated with postcolonial solidarity and balanced engagement in West Asia, but now risks being seen as disengaged from humanitarian concerns and global consensus-building. She specifically questions New Delhi’s lack of a clear public stance on Gaza and the West Bank.
She also argues that India’s silence is not only a moral issue but also a strategic one, suggesting that it weakens India’s standing with countries in the Middle East and the Global South. The article states that India’s traditional diplomatic space in the region is being reduced as other actors become more visible in mediation and advocacy roles.
The op-ed further says that India should respond to what she describes as shifting global sentiment on the conflict, including growing international concern over civilian suffering and allegations of disproportionate use of force. She calls for India to align its foreign policy with humanitarian principles and international opinion.
Following the publication, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi publicly endorsed the article in a post on X. He said Sonia Gandhi’s intervention was a call for India to reclaim an independent foreign policy and to speak with “moral clarity” on Gaza. He also repeated his criticism that India is “slipping into Israel’s strategic orbit”, while much of the world is recalibrating its position.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also backed the remarks, saying India had distanced itself from traditional partners in the Middle East and from global public opinion. He echoed the view that India’s current foreign policy approach had weakened its historical diplomatic balance.
Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also shared Sonia Gandhi’s article online, amplifying the party’s criticism of the government’s stance on Gaza.
The Indian Express op-ed comes amid continuing global concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where international agencies and Palestinian authorities have reported severe civilian casualties, infrastructure collapse, and worsening conditions in the healthcare sector due to shortages and financial strain.
The Congress has increasingly positioned the issue as part of a broader critique of India’s West Asia policy, arguing for a return to what it describes as a more independent and humanitarian-driven foreign policy tradition.
