Modi govt’s silence on Khamenei assassination not neutral but abdication: Sonia

In a scathing criticism of the Modi government on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi said its silence on the targeted assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not impartial but an abdication and raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of India’s foreign policy.

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The former Congress leader also demanded that the government’s “disturbing silence” on the collapse of the international order be discussed openly and without evasion when Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session.

In his article published in the magazine Indian ExpressMrs Gandhi said there was an urgent need for us to “rediscover” moral strength and express it with clarity and commitment.

“On March 1, Iran confirmed that its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hossein Khamenei was killed in targeted attacks carried out by the US and Israel the day before. The killing of a sitting head of state in the midst of ongoing negotiations marks a serious rupture in contemporary international relations,” said Mrs Gandhi.

But beyond the shock of the incident, he said, what stood out equally was New Delhi’s silence.

He stated that the Government of India refrained from condemning the assassination or the violation of Iranian sovereignty.

The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) initially ignored the massive US-Israeli attack, contenting himself with condemning Iran’s retaliatory attack on the UAE without addressing the series of events that preceded it. He then spoke in platitudes about his ‘deep concern’ and spoke of ‘dialogue and diplomacy’; this is exactly what was going on before the massive, unprovoked attacks launched by Israel and the United States,” Mrs. Gandhi said.

“The targeted killing of a foreign leader, when it does not lead to an open defense of sovereignty or international law in our country and when neutrality is abandoned, raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of our foreign policy,” Mrs Gandhi said in her article.

He argued that silence was not impartial in this situation.

Mrs Gandhi pointed out that the assassination was carried out without a formal declaration of war and during the ongoing diplomatic process.

“Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The targeted killing of a sitting head of state is at the heart of these principles,” he said.

He argued that if such actions were accepted without principled objection from the world’s largest democracy, it would become easier to normalize the erosion of international norms.

“The timing adds to the uneasiness. Just 48 hours before the assassination, the Prime Minister returned from a visit to Israel, where he reiterated his unequivocal support for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, even as the Gaza conflict continues to generate global outrage over the extent of civilian casualties, mostly women and children,” Mrs Gandhi said. he said.

At a time when much of the Global South, major powers and India’s partners in the BRICS, such as Russia and China, are keeping their distance, India’s high-profile political support without moral clarity signals a visible and troubling divide, he said.

“The consequences of this event extend beyond geopolitics. The ripples of this tragedy can be seen across continents. And India’s stance signals tacit approval of this tragedy.” he said.

Mrs. Gandhi noted that the Congress had unequivocally condemned the bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, describing them as a dangerous escalation with serious regional and global consequences.

“We expressed our condolences to the people of Iran and the Shiite communities around the world and reiterated that India’s foreign policy is based on the peaceful resolution of disputes, as reflected in Article 51 of the Constitution of India. These principles of ‘sovereign equality, non-intervention and promotion of peace’ have historically been an integral part of India’s diplomatic identity. Therefore, the current silence appears not only tactical but also incompatible with our stated principles.”

Mrs Gandhi said the current government should remember that in April 2001, during the official visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Tehran, India had warmly reaffirmed its deep ties with Iran, both civilizational and contemporary.

“His (Vajpayee’s) admission of these long-standing relationships seems to have nothing to do with our current government,” he said.

He also asked why countries in the Global South should trust India to defend their territorial integrity tomorrow, when it seems hesitant to defend that principle today.

“The appropriate forum to resolve this dissonance is Parliament. When it reconvenes, this disturbing silence on the collapse of the international order should be discussed openly and without evasion,” Mrs Gandhi said.

The targeted killing of a foreign head of state, the erosion of international norms, and increasing instability in West Asia are not trivial matters; He argued that they directly touched upon India’s strategic interests and moral commitments.

“A clear articulation of India’s position is overdue. Democratic accountability requires nothing less and so does strategic clarity,” Mrs Gandhi said.

“India has long promoted the ideal of vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ‘the world is one family.’ This civilizational ethos is not a slogan of ceremonial diplomacy; it implies a commitment to justice, moderation and dialogue, even when doing so is undesirable.

“In moments when the rules-based order is under visible strain, silence means renunciation,” said Mrs. Gandhi.

He said India has long aimed to be more than a regional power and has sought to serve as the guardian of the world’s conscience.

He said that this stance was built on the desire to speak in the name of sovereignty, peace, nonviolence and justice, even if it was objectionable.

“At this time, there is an urgent need for us to rediscover this moral strength and express it with clarity and determination,” Mrs. Gandhi said.

Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States in the early hours of Saturday.

While the United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to take control of their own destiny and revolt against the Islamic leadership that has ruled their country since 1979.