National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders on Saturday, 27 June sharply rebuked senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi after she publicly criticised the Modi government's stance on the Gaza conflict, with ruling coalition members asserting that India's foreign policy is anchored in world peace and does not require her validation.

What Sonia Gandhi Said

In an opinion article, Gandhi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre's 'stony silence' and 'inaction' on the Gaza situation are 'not just morally reprehensible but also inexplicable from a national interest perspective.' The article drew swift and pointed responses from across the ruling coalition.

NDA's Rebuttal

BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas accused Gandhi of taking a 'narrow view of appeasement,' arguing that the ruling alliance speaks for the entire world rather than a single community. 'We talk about world peace. We talk about the cessation of violence across the board and bringing people to the negotiation table so that no issues are left unresolved,' he said, urging Gandhi to adopt a 'broader perspective' and acknowledging that 'everybody has a collective responsibility for peace' in a multipolar world.

BJP leader Manmeet Singh went further, calling Gandhi a practitioner of 'divisive politics,' extending the charge to her predecessors Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rajiv Gandhi.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC contended that the Ministry of External Affairs had already engaged in bilateral discussions to maintain peace between Israel and Palestine, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dispatched humanitarian aid to Gaza. 'Maybe Sonia Gandhi has ignored all of this,' she said.

Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar was more direct: 'India has always extended support to Palestine, we don't need a certificate from Sonia Gandhi on that.' He added that there has historically been a 'consensus on India's foreign policy' across party lines.

Congress and Opposition Push Back

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera defended Gandhi, saying she had written the article with a 'heavy heart.' He argued that the government has 'distanced India from what its stand used to be on situations like the Palestine issue,' and noted that Prime Minister Modi had not yet condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza.

Responding to charges of vote-bank politics, Khera said, 'Does talking about human values have anything to do with votes? Do they think Hindus wouldn't have felt bad or sad when they saw the sight in Gaza?' He called the vote-bank allegation 'the most shameful and most foolish remark' he had heard.

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Saugata Roy also backed Gandhi, pointing to India's silence during the US and Israel actions against Iran as a pattern. 'In Gaza, innocent children were killed, the government should have raised its voice against it,' he said.

The Broader Context

The exchange reflects a deepening fault line in Indian politics over the country's traditionally non-aligned foreign policy posture. India has historically maintained close ties with both Israel — a major defence supplier — and Palestine, whose cause it has supported at multilateral forums for decades. Critics argue the current government has tilted toward Israel without adequate public acknowledgement of civilian casualties in Gaza. The ruling coalition insists its diplomatic engagement, including humanitarian assistance, speaks for itself.

With the Gaza conflict continuing to draw international attention, the debate over India's public positioning is unlikely to subside.