Will Sonia Gandhi’s Iran Diplomacy Assist Win Again Muslim Vote Financial institution? Congress Hopes So
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Sonia Gandhi has stepped in to make sure Shia Muslims are proud of the Grand Previous Social gathering and repay it by returning to the fold
Sonia Gandhi echoed the official stand of the party—not simply on Iran, but additionally on Palestine. (PTI)
Sonia Gandhi’s editorial in a every day newspaper has evoked controversy as soon as once more. In her article, Gandhi questioned the silence of the Narendra Modi authorities on Iran, noting that: “New Delhi’s silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation in opposition to Iran displays a disturbing departure from our ethical and diplomatic traditions. This represents not only a lack of voice but additionally a give up of values.”
Including that Iran has all the time been a pal of India and “we should always stand by it”, Sonia Gandhi echoed the official stand of the social gathering—not simply on Iran, but additionally on Palestine. In actual fact, just some days again, Priyanka Vadra had attacked the Modi authorities for its abstention on the UN Safety Council on the problem of Israel. Her well-known pro-Palestine bag that she carried to Parliament had evoked a pointy response from the BJP, which accused her of politicising the problem and attempting to appease the minority vote financial institution.
However has Iran been India’s all-weather pal? And has it all the time steered away from controversy? Probably not.
In 2024, India had strongly objected to a social media put up by Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by which he mentioned: “The enemies of Islam have all the time tried to make us detached with regard to our shared identification as an Islamic ummah. We can’t take into account ourselves to be Muslims if we’re oblivious to the struggling {that a} Muslim is enduring in Myanmar, Gaza or India.”
India’s international ministry had condemned the remark as “misinformed and unacceptable”. Not simply this, Iran had additionally meddled in India’s inside affairs and condemned the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir.
The actual fact is that India and Iran have shared altering relations. In 1994, when a UN physique was speaking about sanctions in opposition to India on grounds of human rights violations in Kashmir, Iran had bailed India out. What Sonia Gandhi is referring to is the truth that India has forgotten this favour, preferring to ally with Western nations, the US and Israel by refusing to endorse a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation assertion, which condemned Israel’s assault on Tehran.
Behind this diplomatic stand are objections raised by the Congress. And behind the Congress’ objections is its Muslim vote financial institution, which it has misplaced to different regional events just like the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Social gathering and RJD through the years. Congress desires to reclaim its turf and therefore, Sonia Gandhi has stepped in and upped the stakes for the social gathering to make sure Shia Muslims are proud of the Grand Previous Social gathering and repay it by returning to the fold.
Pallavi Ghosh has lined politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Learn Extra
Pallavi Ghosh has lined politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Learn Extra
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