The Congress on Monday strongly criticised the Modi government for what it described as its “deafening silence” on the recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Israel’s continuing aggression in the region. The opposition party also reiterated the urgent need for India to push for diplomacy and dialogue amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh condemned the government’s lack of response, saying, “The Modi Government has unequivocally neither criticised nor condemned the US bombing and Israel’s aggression, bombings and targeted assassinations.” He added that India had also remained silent on what he termed the “genocide being perpetrated on the Palestinians in Gaza.”
Ramesh’s comments followed the US bombing of three key nuclear sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The strikes have sparked global concern over the potential for a wider regional war.
“India Must Show Moral Courage”: Congress
Calling for a stronger moral stance, Ramesh said, “The Indian National Congress reiterates the absolute essentiality of immediate diplomacy and dialogue with Iran. The Government of India must demonstrate greater moral courage than it has so far.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, had expressed India’s “deep concern” over the deteriorating situation and called for immediate de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. However, the Congress maintains that a mere expression of concern falls short of what is expected from India on the international stage.
Sonia Gandhi’s Sharp Criticism
Earlier, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had also lashed out at the Modi government’s foreign policy posture. In a recent article titled “It is still not too late for India’s voice to be heard”, she accused the government of abandoning India’s principled commitment to a two-state solution involving an independent Palestine alongside Israel.
She described India’s silence on Gaza and Iran as “not just a loss of its voice, but also a surrender of values.” Gandhi also took aim at US President Donald Trump, calling his recent decisions a continuation of a “destructive path” despite previously opposing America’s involvement in endless wars.
Global Concern Over Escalation
The US strikes have heightened fears of a full-blown conflict in West Asia, with multiple international organisations and governments urging restraint. The Congress has called on the Indian government to move beyond symbolic statements and take a more assertive and ethical stand on the issue.
As tensions rise in the region, the opposition has made it clear that it expects the Modi government to reassert India’s traditional diplomatic principles—including peace, non-alignment, and support for sovereignty—in a turbulent geopolitical environment.
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