New Delhi: The Congress Sunday accused Israel of violating Iran’s sovereignty, stating that the killings of top Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists represent a dangerous escalation with “grave regional and global consequences”.
The principal opposition party expressed its stance a day after the BJP-led Union government distanced itself from a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement that sharply criticised Israeli actions against Iran.
Iran is a member state of the 11-member SCO.
“The Indian National Congress unequivocally condemns Israel’s recent bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, which represent a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences. This attack on Iran’s sovereignty and encroachment of its rights, whether through aerial strikes or covert killings, only deepens instability and sows the seeds of further conflict,” the Congress said in a statement.
“The Congress party firmly believes that diplomacy, dialogue, and international cooperation, and not violence, are the only legitimate and sustainable path forward. Hostilities must cease immediately. Continued military brinkmanship risks plunging an already fragile region into wider war, with catastrophic human and economic fallout,” it added.
The party had Saturday questioned the Centre’s move to distance itself from the SCO statement that termed Israel’s “aggressive actions” in Iran, including targeting of energy and transport infrastructure, “a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter”.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India did not participate in the discussions at the SCO on the statement. The MEA added that New Delhi has already urged that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation.
“The External Affairs Minister, too, discussed this matter with his Iranian counterpart yesterday and conveyed the deep concern of the international community at the turn of events. He also urged the avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy,” stated the MEA.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said that the MEA’s statement suggested that India has become an “abject apologist” for Israel.
“What does this MEA statement really mean? It seems to suggest that Israel can attack Iran but that Iran should exercise restraint and not climb the escalatory ladder. Have we been reduced to being an abject apologist for Israel? We cannot even condemn Israel’s attacks on and targeted assassinations in Iran?” Ramesh posted on X on Saturday.
However, the party’s formal statement issued Sunday had no reference to the SCO issue. While condemning Israeli action, the Congress also acknowledged India’s strategic ties with Israel in recent decades.
“India has long-standing civilisational ties with Iran and, in recent decades, has developed strategic relations with Israel. This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace.
“With lakhs of Indian citizens living and working across West Asia, peace in the region is a vital national interest apart from being a geopolitical concern. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue,” it said.
On Saturday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had called Israel’s attack on Iran as a violation of its sovereignty and a complete contravention of all international norms.
The party was also highly critical of India’s abstention from a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. It called the move an act of “staggering moral cowardice”, and asked if the Centre had abandoned late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s “principled stand” on Palestine.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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