Sonia Gandhi Criticizes India’s Silence on Khamenei Assassination

In a column published in The Indian Express on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Gandhi argued that India’s relationship with Tehran transcends mere geopolitics, representing a deep "civilizational bond" that should not be ignored during such a critical international crisis. She expressed profound concern that the targeted killing of a head of state marks a dangerous decay in global diplomatic norms.

The veteran leader pointed out a perceived imbalance in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance, noting that while the Indian government has condemned Iran’s retaliatory drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates, it has remained largely silent regarding the devastating U.S.-Israeli joint strikes on Iranian soil. This shift is particularly notable given that the escalation occurred just 48 hours after Prime Minister Modi concluded a high-profile visit to Israel, where he reaffirmed strong support for the Netanyahu government. Gandhi warned that such unconditional alignment undermines India’s traditional "middle-path" foreign policy and risks alienating long-standing regional partners.