Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on July 29 sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “shameful silence” over Israel’s military assault on civilians in Gaza. In an opinion piece published in Dainik Jagran, she described the PM’s inaction as the “height of moral cowardice” and a “cowardly betrayal of our constitutional values”.

Sonia Gandhi asserted that India’s failure to speak up in international forums - such as abstaining from key United Nations General Assembly resolutions - undermines its legacy as a moral leader of the Global South. She urged Modi to adopt a bold and unequivocal stance on behalf of India’s long-held commitment to peace, international justice, and the two-state solution.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed Gandhi’s sentiments, stating that remaining passive in the face of mass civilian deaths in Gaza amounts to complicity. He emphasized that India once recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization and was among the first to officially recognize the State of Palestine - suggesting today’s silence marks a sharp departure from that legacy