File photo: Sonia Gandhi NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday slammed Sonia Gandhi’s denunciation of the government’s silence over the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack as the party recalled the deceased Iranian’s support for the secessionist forces in Kashmir and said diplomacy cannot be reduced to appeasement or performative politics.BJP’s foreign department head Vijay Chauthaiwale cited several statements of Khamenei that were critical of India and said Sonia needed to “brush up” her memory. In one statement in 2017 the Iranian leader had called for the “Muslim world to openly support the people of Yemen, Bahrain, and Kashmir and repudiate oppressors and tyrants who attacked them,” Chauthaiwale said. “India has not been silent. It has consistently called for restraint, respect for sovereignty, and de-escalation. Israel attacks IranUS-Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Iran launches ‘massive missile’ strike at US airbase in Bahrain; Israel bombs BeirutFrom Khamenei’s compound to nuclear complex: Satellite images show aftermath of Iranian sites after US-Israel strikesOperation Epic Fury: US spends $700m in 24 hours; final war cost remains uncertainWith millions of citizens living and working across the Gulf, along with critical economic and energy linkages, reckless commentary is neither practical nor responsible,” he said. Sonia’s article portraying India’s response to the crisis as “silence” is misleading and reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of responsible diplomacy, BJP’s Amit Malviya said. He added when Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011, the Congress-headed UPA govt neither issued a condolence nor mounted any condemnation. “Was the UPA wrong in 2011, or is the Modi govt right today? One cannot have two foreign policies: one in opposition and another in power,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIsrael Bombs Iran’s Presidential Office, Trump Says Iran’s Leadership ‘Gone’, ‘Too Late For Talks’Mercedes Benz India: Why the FTA Won’t Lower Car Prices in 2026PM Modi Steps Up Gulf Diplomacy Amid US Iran War, India Warns Of Serious Consequences On EconomyBihar Buzz: Will CM Nitish Kumar’s Son Nishant Kumar Enter Politics Through Rajya Sabha Route?As Protests Break Out In India, A Look At Why Ayatollah Khamenei Was Spiritual Anchor For Shia Muslims“Not the Right Choice But The Only Choice”: IAF Veteran on Rafale DilemmaDelhi Police Detain 4,000 In Pre-Holi Crackdown Under Operation Aaghat 4.0Narendra Modi: Global Digital Leader Surpasses 30 Million YouTube SubscribersIndian Air Force Begins Process To Replace 20-Year-Old VIP Jets Used By Ministers And Military ChiefsIndia-Canada Uranium Deal Explained: Why It Matters For India’s Future?123Photostories14 types of veg and non-veg deep-fried pakodas to make the Holi party even more flavourfulRevenge bedtime procrastination: Why you stay up late even when you’re exhausted and how to win over this habitLab-grown gold vs mined gold: What’s the real difference in price, purity, and investment value?Lunar eclipse 2026: See stunning ‘Blood Moon’ photos from across the worldTotal lunar eclipse 2026: Photos of rare ‘Blood Moon’Holi 2026: From Devoleena Bhattacharjee and husband Shanwaz, Gaurav Khanna-Akanksha Chamola to Divyanka Tripathi- Vivek Dahiya; TV celebs’ colourful pictures from the festivitiesTop 5 tallest residential buildings in Europe (2026)5 of the worst travel crisis the world has seen since 2020From salad to halwa: 8 ways to consume raw papaya to improve gut healthHigh cholesterol isn’t just about one number: Cardiologist explains LDL, ApoB, Lp(a) and how to lower your real heart attack risk123Hot PicksIran droneUS Iran War Impact on Stock MarketMiddle East CrisisGulf Flights UpdateIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingNBA Injury UpdateUS Israel Strike IranUS Attack on IranCBSE postpones Class 10 and 12 board examsUS Strike IranLG Hospital AhmedabadMiddle East CrisisIsrael Iran ConflictChandra Grahan 2026 TimeSchool Holiday in March
NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday slammed Sonia Gandhi’s denunciation of the government’s silence over the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack as the party recalled the deceased Iranian’s support for the secessionist forces in Kashmir and said diplomacy cannot be reduced to appeasement or performative politics.BJP’s foreign department head Vijay Chauthaiwale cited several statements of Khamenei that were critical of India and said Sonia needed to “brush up” her memory. In one statement in 2017 the Iranian leader had called for the “Muslim world to openly support the people of Yemen, Bahrain, and Kashmir and repudiate oppressors and tyrants who attacked them,” Chauthaiwale said. “India has not been silent. It has consistently called for restraint, respect for sovereignty, and de-escalation. With millions of citizens living and working across the Gulf, along with critical economic and energy linkages, reckless commentary is neither practical nor responsible,” he said. Sonia’s article portraying India’s response to the crisis as “silence” is misleading and reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of responsible diplomacy, BJP’s Amit Malviya said. He added when Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011, the Congress-headed UPA govt neither issued a condolence nor mounted any condemnation. “Was the UPA wrong in 2011, or is the Modi govt right today? One cannot have two foreign policies: one in opposition and another in power,” he said.
