New Delhi: In a stinging rebuke of the Modi government’s foreign policy, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has characterised India’s refusal to condemn the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader as an “abdication” of its international responsibilities and a departure from its foundational principles.

Writing in an opinion piece for the Indian Express, Mrs Gandhi argued that the targeted killing of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei by the United States and Israel on 28 February represents a “grave rupture” in international relations that New Delhi cannot afford to ignore under the guise of neutrality.

A Departure from Strategic Autonomy

Mrs Gandhi’s intervention comes at a period of intense regional volatility. Following the confirmation of the Supreme Leader’s death on 1 March, the Middle East has seen a surge in retaliatory strikes and diplomatic fallout. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “deep concern” and advocated for “dialogue and diplomacy,” the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson argued that such “platitudes” fail to address the gravity of the situation.

“Silence, in this instance, is not neutral,” Mrs Gandhi wrote. She asserted that the assassination—carried out without a formal declaration of war and amidst ongoing diplomatic processes—violates Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. By failing to offer a principled objection, she warned, the world’s largest democracy is helping to “normalise” the erosion of international norms.

The Shadow of the Tel Aviv Visit

A significant portion of the critique focused on the timing of recent diplomatic engagements. The Prime Minister had returned from a high-profile visit to Israel just 48 hours before the strikes in Tehran. Mrs Gandhi noted that while India reiterated “unequivocal support” for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, it did so even as the Gaza conflict continued to draw global condemnation.

“At a time when much of the Global South, along with major powers… have kept their distance, India’s high-profile political endorsement without moral clarity marks a visible and troubling departure,” she said.

Historical and Strategic Stakes

The former Congress President reminded the government of the “civilisational and strategic” ties between India and Iran. She specifically cited:

* The 1994 UN Resolution: Tehran’s pivotal role in blocking an OIC-led resolution against India over Kashmir.

* Strategic Assets: The importance of the Indian presence in Zahedan as a counter-balance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

* The Diaspora: The safety of nearly 10 million Indians living and working across the Gulf region.

Mrs Gandhi argued that India’s ability to safeguard its citizens in past crises—from Yemen to Syria—rested on its credibility as an “independent actor, not as a proxy.” She cautioned that this credibility is now being diluted by a posture that looks like “retreat” from strategic autonomy.

A Call for Parliamentary Debate

Concluding her piece, Mrs Gandhi called for the matter to be debated openly in Parliament. She argued that the “optics of acquiescence” carry real costs for a nation that aspires to represent the Global South and lead with the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).

“India has long sought to serve as the conscience-keeper of the world,” she stated. “At moments when the rules-based order is under visible strain, silence is abdication.”

The Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a direct response to Mrs Gandhi’s critique, maintaining its stance that India remains focused on the safety of its nationals and the cessation of hostilities through diplomatic channels.