New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, questioning if he endorses “the assassination of a head of state as a way to define the world order.”
He warned that such reticence is eroding India’s global stature amid the intensifying US-Israel-Iran conflict.
In a post on X, Rahul stated: “Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran are pushing a fragile region toward wider conflict. Crores of people, including nearly a crore Indians, face uncertainty.”
The former Congress chief condemned both sides, stating: “While security concerns are real, attacks that violate sovereignty will only worsen the crisis. The unilateral attacks on Iran, as well as Iran’s attacks on other Middle Eastern nations, must be condemned. Violence begets violence—dialogue and restraint remain the only path to peace.”
Underlining India’s foreign policy principles, Rahul said: “India must be morally clear. We should have the courage to speak plainly in defence of international law and human lives. Our foreign policy is rooted in sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes— and it must remain consistent.”
He said: “Silence now diminishes India’s standing in the world. PM Modi must speak up.”
The remarks follow joint US-Israel strikes targeting Tehran on February 28 in which Khamenei was killed. The attacks have ignited fears of wider Middle East conflict, with Iran retaliating against UAE and other nations, threatening nearly a crore Indians in the region.
Modi has expressed “deep concern” over West Asia’s “grave” situation but avoided explicit comment on Khamenei’s killing. He condemned Iran’s UAE strikes during talks with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and urged Israeli PM Netanyahu for de-escalation, prioritizing Indian evacuations.
