Sonia Slams Govt Over Silence on Khamenei Killing, Seeks Debate in Parliament

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Modi government over its response to the targeted killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that its silence amounts to an abdication of responsibility and raises concerns about the direction of India’s foreign policy.

She demanded that when Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session, the issue of the government’s “disturbing silence” on the breakdown of international order be debated openly and without evasion.

In an article published in The Indian Express , Gandhi said there is an urgent need for India to rediscover its moral strength and articulate its foreign policy position with clarity and commitment.

She noted that Iran confirmed on March 1 that its Supreme Leader had been assassinated in targeted strikes carried out the previous day by the United States and Israel. Gandhi described the killing of a sitting head of state during ongoing diplomatic engagement as a grave rupture in contemporary international relations .

Beyond the shock of the incident, she argued, what stands out is New Delhi’s silence. The Government of India, she claimed, has refrained from condemning the assassination or explicitly addressing the violation of Iranian sovereignty .

Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initially condemned Iran’s retaliatory strike on the UAE without acknowledging the sequence of events that preceded it. She further stated that later remarks expressing “deep concern” and calling for “dialogue and diplomacy” appeared inconsistent because such diplomatic processes were already underway before the attacks.

When the targeted killing of a foreign leader draws no clear defence of sovereignty and international law , she wrote, and impartiality is abandoned, it raises serious doubts about India’s credibility and strategic direction.

Citing Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter , Gandhi emphasised that the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state is prohibited. She said a targeted killing of a serving head of state without a formal declaration of war directly challenges these principles.

She warned that if such actions go without principled objection from major democracies, the erosion of international norms becomes easier to normalise. The impact, she added, extends beyond one region and contributes to wider instability in West Asia.

Gandhi also questioned the timing, pointing out that the assassination occurred shortly after the Prime Minister’s visit to Israel, where he reiterated support for the Israeli government amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

At a time when many countries in the Global South and India’s partners in BRICS including Russia and China have maintained distance from the conflict, she said India’s high-profile political positioning without moral clarity appears troubling.

The Congress leader stated that her party has unequivocally condemned the bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil , describing them as dangerous escalations with serious regional consequences. The party has also extended condolences to the Iranian people and Shia communities worldwide.

reaffirming that India’s foreign policy is anchored in the peaceful settlement of disputes , as reflected in Article 51 of the Constitution, she highlighted principles such as sovereign equality, non-intervention and promotion of peace as core elements of India’s diplomatic identity.

Gandhi referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2001 visit to Tehran, noting that he reaffirmed India’s civilisational ties with Iran. She argued that maintaining relations with both Tehran and Tel Aviv gives India diplomatic space to urge restraint but that space depends on credibility and principled consistency .

She also stressed that nearly 10 million Indians living and working across the Gulf depend on India’s ability to act as an independent and credible actor during crises. In past regional conflicts, India’s diplomatic strength has helped safeguard its citizens abroad.

Questioning why countries in the Global South should trust India to defend sovereignty tomorrow if it appears hesitant today, she said Parliament is the appropriate forum to address these concerns.

“A clear articulation of India’s position is overdue,” Gandhi asserted, adding that democratic accountability and strategic clarity demand open debate.

Invoking the ideal of vasudhaiva kutumbakam , she said it represents a commitment to justice, restraint and dialogue especially when global stability is under strain.

“At moments when the rules-based order is under pressure, silence is abdication,” she concluded, urging the government to speak with clarity and conviction.