In a scathing criticism of the Modi government, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) said its silence on the targeted assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not neutral but an abdication, and raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of India’s foreign policy.

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The former Congress president also demanded that when Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session, the government’s “disturbing silence” over the breakdown of international order must be debated openly and without evasion.

In her article published in The Indian Express, Ms. Gandhi said there is an urgent need for “us to rediscover” the moral strength and articulate it with clarity and commitment.

“On March 1, Iran confirmed that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, had been assassinated in targeted strikes carried out the previous day by the United States and Israel. The killing of a sitting head of state in the midst of ongoing negotiations marks a grave rupture in contemporary international relations,” Ms. Gandhi said.

Yet, beyond the shock of the event, what stands out equally starkly is New Delhi’s silence, she said.

The Government of India has refrained from condemning the assassination or the violation of Iranian sovereignty, she noted.

‘Initially, ignoring the massive US-Israeli onslaught, the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) confined himself to condemning Iran’s retaliatory strike on the UAE without addressing the sequence of events that preceded it. Later, he uttered platitudes about his ‘deep concern’ and talked of ‘dialogue and diplomacy’ — which is precisely what was underway before the massive unprovoked attacks launched by Israel and the US,” Ms. Gandhi said.

“When the targeted killing of a foreign leader draws no clear defence of sovereignty or international law from our country and impartiality is abandoned, it raises serious doubts about the direction and credibility of our foreign policy,” Ms. Gandhi said in her article.

Silence, in this instance, is not neutral, she asserted.

Ms. Gandhi pointed out that the assassination was carried out without a formal declaration of war and during an ongoing diplomatic process.

“Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. A targeted killing of a serving head of state strikes at the heart of these principles,” she said.

If such acts pass without principled objection from the world’s largest democracy, the erosion of international norms becomes easier to normalise, she argued.

“The unease is compounded by the timing. Barely 48 hours before the assassination, the Prime Minister returned from a visit to Israel, where he reiterated unequivocal support for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, even as the Gaza conflict continues to draw global outrage over the scale of civilian casualties, many of them women and children,” Ms. Gandhi said.

At a time when much of the Global South, along with major powers and India’s partners in BRICS such as Russia and China, have kept their distance, India’s high-profile political endorsement without moral clarity marks a visible and troubling departure, she said.

“The consequences of this event extend beyond geopolitics. The ripples of this tragedy are visible across continents. And India’s stance is signalling tacit endorsement of this tragedy,” she claimed.

Ms. Gandhi pointed out that the Congress has unequivocally condemned the bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, describing them as a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences.

“We have extended condolences to the Iranian people and to Shia communities worldwide, reiterating that India’s foreign policy is anchored in the peaceful settlement of disputes, as reflected in Article 51 of the Constitution of India. These principles ‘ sovereign equality, non-intervention and the promotion of peace ‘ have historically been integral to India’s diplomatic identity. The present reticence, therefore, appears not merely tactical, but discordant with our stated principles,” she said.

The present government would do well to remember that in April 2001, the then prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during an official visit to Tehran, warmly reaffirmed India’s deep ties with Iran, both civilisational and contemporary, Ms. Gandhi said.

“His (Vajpayee’s) acknowledgement of those long-standing relations seems to hold no relevance for our current government,” she said.

She further asked as to why should countries in the Global South trust India to defend their territorial integrity tomorrow if it appears hesitant to defend that principle today.

“The appropriate forum for resolving this dissonance is Parliament. When it reconvenes, this disturbing silence over the breakdown of international order must be debated openly and without evasion,” Ms. Gandhi said.

The targeted killing of a foreign head of state, the erosion of international norms, and the widening instability in West Asia are not peripheral matters; they touch directly upon India’s strategic interests and moral commitments, she asserted.

“A clear articulation of India’s position is overdue. Democratic accountability demands no less, and strategic clarity requires it,” Ms. Gandhi said.

“India has long invoked the ideal of vasudhaiva kutumbakam ‘ the world is one family. That civilisational ethos is not a slogan for ceremonial diplomacy; it implies a commitment to justice, restraint and dialogue, even when doing so is inconvenient.

“At moments when the rules-based order is under visible strain, silence is abdication,” Ms. Gandhi said.

India has long-aspired to be more than a regional power and it has sought to serve as the conscience-keeper of the world, she said.

That stature was built on a willingness to speak for sovereignty, peace, non-violence and justice even when doing so was inconvenient, she said.

“At this moment, there is an urgent need for us to rediscover that moral strength and articulate it with clarity and commitment,” Ms. Gandhi said.

Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the U.S. in the early hours of Saturday.

The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to seize control of their destiny and rise against the Islamic leadership that has ruled their country since 1979.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

New Delhi:

Several top dignitaries paid tributes to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a prayer meet organised in his memory at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj here.

Among the top leaders who attended the prayer meeting (Kirtan and Antim Ardas) included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly Pratap Bajwa and former deputy chairperson of the then Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia also attended the prayer.

Others who attended the ceremony included Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, former Union ministers Salman Khurshid and Ajay Maken, and Sukhjinder Randhawa. BJP’s Praneet Kaur and Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present.

Earlier, former vice-president Hamid Ansari, Sonia Gandhi and Kharge were among the dignitaries who attended the ‘Akhand Path’ at the ex-prime minister’s residence on Friday.

Former prime minister’s wife, Gursharan Kaur sang a ‘shabad (verse)’ from the Sikh holy scriptures during the ‘Akhand path (continuous recitation of Guru Granth Sahib)’ at his residence.

Dr Singh steered the country as prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and was considered the architect of India’s economic liberalisation and reforms.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

In May 2004 Congress leader Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister – a position he would hold for the next decade – but the soft-spoken and erudite economist, who made headlines steering the nation through the 1991 economic reforms as Finance Minister, was a pick straight out of left field, a surprise nomination for a post many believed had Sonia Gandhi’s name all over it.

Mrs Gandhi, though, had other ideas, though she kept quiet about them for the next 14 years.

In March 2014, at an event in Mumbai, the veteran Congress leader finally opened up.

“I knew my limitations… I knew Manmohan Singh would be a better Prime Minister…”

Sure, there were many questions.

Did condemnation of Mrs Gandhi’s Italian heritage give her pause from taking the job? Would Dr Singh have become Prime Minister if Rajiv Gandhi was not assassinated in 1991? Did appeals by her children, understandably worried by the prospect of a mother ascending to a post that had claimed their father and grandmother, sway her? Was there dissent within the Congress’ ranks?

READ | How Manmohan Singh Was ‘Accidental PM’ After UPA’s Shock 2004 Win

But Mrs Gandhi waved these aside, trusting her “inner voice” and Manmohan Singh.

Dr Singh’s time as Prime Minister was marked by successes and scandals, challenges were overcome and corruption scams red-flagged, and an avalanche of criticism from the Congress’ detractors, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. And among the most frequently used bullet in those attacks was the charge that Manmohan Singh, then 71 years old, was a ‘puppet’ Prime Minister.

The Congress stalwart would always refuse to be drawn on those jabs, gently brushing aside criticism and questions to focus on what mattered most to him – the country and its people.

READ | Not Health, Manmohan Singh Asked About This After Heart Surgery

The legacy Dr Singh left behind – from laying a strong foundation for the economy to securing the India-United States nuclear deal, and from enacting rural jobs schemes to the Right to Education Act for children – gave his successor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an enviable platform from which to build.

READ | How Manmohan Singh Laid Foreign Policy Base PM Modi Built Upon

And yet, his legacy will also include the many jabs and barbs, including ‘silent PM’, ‘reluctant PM’, and ‘accidental PM’, tossed at him from rival politicians, none of which seemed – at least publicly, for what confidences he may have shared with his wife, we may never know – to faze Dr Singh.

READ | “People Say I Was…”: Manmohan Singh Defends ‘Silent PM’ Charge

For he himself preferred to leave judgement of his career to the annals of history. In 2014 he said, in his typical dry but sharp humour, “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the opposition parties in Parliament.”

And today, 92 years later, history will have the chance to do just that.

For Dr Manmohan Singh died late Thursday at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

News of Dr Singh’s death was met with an outpouring of grief, not just from within the Congress – party boss Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted heartfelt tributes – but also across parties, including from the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi – who, in February this year, hailed Dr Singh as an “inspiration to lawmakers” as he retired from the Rajya Sabha – mourned his loss, and paid his final respects to his predecessor at his Delhi residence this morning.

“Dr Manmohan Singhji and I interacted regularly… We had extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singhji, his friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”

READ | “Epitome Of Simplicity”: PM’s Video Tribute To Manmohan Singh

Dr Singh’s death has also been felt across the world, with former heads of state, particularly his contemporaries, such as former United States President Barack Obama and ex-Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, remembering him as a scholar and a gentleman.

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New Delhi:

In his signature white kurta-pyjama and blue turban, Manmohan Singh, then 71, took the oath of office as India’s 14th Prime Minister on May 22, 2004. Members of Dr Singh’s family, political allies, and predecessors – including Atal Bihari Vajpayee – looked on as a quiet and reserved leader assumed the reins of power at a ceremony conducted by then-President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Until the 2004 election results were announced, it was widely assumed that the incumbent NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee would secure a second term. The BJP’s high-profile “India Shining” campaign dominated the airwaves. Political analysts and exit polls had overwhelmingly predicted a BJP-led victory. However, the Congress party, under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, spearheaded a comeback.

READ | “People Say I Was…”: When Manmohan Singh Defended “Silent PM” Charge

The Congress-led UPA coalition emerged victorious, securing enough support from regional allies to form the government. Sonia Gandhi, expected by many to assume the prime ministership, instead made a decision that surprised many: she stepped aside in favour of Manmohan Singh, citing her “inner voice”.

Sonia Gandhi’s Italian roots have been a contentious political issue since she entered active politics in 1998. In 2004, despite Congress’s electoral success, the issue resurfaced when BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti reignited the controversy. Ms Swaraj even threatened dramatic protests, including shaving her head, should Mrs Gandhi become Prime Minister.

READ | Manmohan Singh’s Poetic Banter With Sushma Swaraj In Parliament

Sonia Gandhi also faced resistance internally. In his autobiography, One Life Is Not Enough, former External Affairs minister and Congress leader Natwar Singh recounted a tense moment at Mrs Gandhi’s residence, where Rahul Gandhi strongly urged his mother not to accept the position, citing his worries in light of the assassinations of his father, Rajiv Gandhi, and grandmother, Indira Gandhi.

Mrs Gandhi’s refusal to accept the top post paved the way for Manmohan Singh’s ascent. As a soft-spoken technocrat with no mass political base, Dr Singh was an unlikely choice. A career economist who had served as Finance Minister in PV Narasimha Rao’s government during the 1991 economic liberalisation, Dr Singh had earned respect in policy circles but lacked the typical attributes of a political leader. His lone attempt to contest a Lok Sabha seat, from South Delhi in 1999, ended in defeat, and Dr Singh remained a Rajya Sabha member throughout his political career.

READ | “Greatest Champion”: World Leaders Pay Tributes To Ex-PM Manmohan Singh

Despite being termed the “Accidental Prime Minister,” Dr Singh’s decade-long tenure was marked by some great achievements. His government launched transformative programs like the Right to Information (RTI), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), and the Right to Education (RTE).

Dr Singh’s tenure, however, was not without controversies. In 2008, his government faced a confidence vote after the Left parties withdrew support over the Indo-US nuclear deal. Dr Singh staked his political capital on the agreement, arguing it was crucial for India’s energy security. His government survived the trust vote by a narrow margin.

The UPA lost power in 2014, with Narendra Modi’s BJP securing a landslide victory. Dr Singh exited public life with characteristic grace, stating, “I honestly believe history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament.”

New Delhi:

Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has claimed that the Gandhi family played a part in both his rise and his subsequent marginalisation within the party. “The irony of my life is that my political career was made by the Gandhis and unmade by the Gandhis,” Mr Aiyar remarked. 

In an exclusive interview with news agency PTI, the 83-year-old claimed that he was not given any substantial, direct engagement with key members of the Gandhi family over the years.

“For 10 years, I was not given an opportunity to meet Sonia Gandhi one-on-one. I was not given an opportunity, except once, of spending any meaningful time with Rahul Gandhi. And I have not spent time with Priyanka except on one occasion, no, two occasions,” he said, adding that Priyanka  Gandhi has occasionally called him on the phone, which has kept some level of contact alive.

EXCLUSIVE | VIDEO: “For 10 years, I was not given an opportunity to meet Sonia Gandhi one-on-one. I was not given an opportunity, except once, of spending any meaningful time with Rahul Gandhi. And I have not spent time with Priyanka except on one occasion, no, two occasions. She… pic.twitter.com/A40wVsV0vd

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 15, 2024

Recalling one particular incident, Mr Aiyar said he had to rely on the Wayanad MP to convey his birthday wishes to Rahul Gandhi during a period when he was suspended from the party. 

“I happened to meet her (Priyanka Gandhi) and she’s always been very kind to me,” he said. “And I thought that since Rahul’s birthday was in June, I could ask her to convey my greetings to Rahul.”

According to Mr Aiyar, when Priyanka Gandhi asked why he wasn’t talking to Rahul Gandhi himself, he replied, “I am suspended and therefore I can’t talk to my leader.”

The veteran leader said he wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi – a gesture that began with birthday greetings but also sought clarity on his suspension, but “never got any acknowledgement for that letter”.

New Delhi:

Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani has ripped into the Congress and the Gandhi family, saying Sonia Gandhi’s former leadership role in the Forum of Democratic Leaders – a think-tank funded partly by the George Soros Foundation – and consequent links to Mr Soros “exposes her to grave criminal charges… in view of (the Forum’s) public advocacy of independence for Kashmir”.

In a long and scathing post on X Mr Jethmalani also threw his weight behind the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which rocked this Parliament session by alleging collusion between Mrs Gandhi and Mr Soros to defame Indian business interests and adversely impact national security.

“Sonia Gandhi’s co-presidency of the Forum of Democratic Leaders (Asia Pacific) not only establishes her links with George Soros, as the Forum is heavily financed by the George Soros Foundation, but also exposes her to grave criminal charges under (anti-terror law) UAPA in view of public advocacy of independence for Kashmir by the Forum,” the ex-Rajya Sabha MP said.

“… the BJP has exposed the unholy Sonia/Soros nexus and the Forum’s sinister objective qua Kashmir… Promotion of secessionism is a grave offence under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) and the National Investigation Agency must lodge a FIR.” he also said.

#SoniaGandhi‘s co-presidency of the Forum of Democratic Leaders – Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) not only establishes her links with #GeorgeSoros, as the Forum is heavily financed by the George Soros Foundation, but also exposes her to grave criminal charges under the #UAPA in view of the…

— Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM) December 11, 2024

Neither Mrs Gandhi nor the Congress have, so far, responded to Mr Jethmalani’s attack, although the party on Monday thundered, “We are patriots… there is no question of an anti-India stance.”

Soros Links “Ridiculous”: Priyanka Gandhi

Mr Jethmalani also slammed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who on Tuesday counter-attacked by accusing the BJP of using “the most ridiculous thing” to distract focus from the Congress’ demand – a discussion on the United States’ indictment naming Adani Green Energy.

READ | “Ridiculous, BJP Scared”: PGV On Sonia Gandhi-George Soros Links

“It is the most ridiculous thing they could come up with. They are talking about some 1994 thing… No one knows what they are talking about. The only reason they are doing this is because they don’t want to discuss the Adani issue… they are scared… because the truth will be revealed,” she told reporters.

Ms Gandhi Vadra wasn’t the only Congress leader to come out swinging. Karti Chidambaram dismissed the allegations, telling NDTV “dark fantasies” should be confined to the “dark web”. “People have dark, morbid fantasies and they can continue to have them (but) there will be no credence given.”

PGV’s Comments “Vacuous”

“Priyanka Vadra’s dismissal of her mother’s links with Soros, in a concerted promotion of Kashmiri separatism, is a vacuous response that reveals a reckless disregard for India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Jethmalani hit back in his post on Wednesday.

Calling other senior Congress leaders for their “silence” – he singled out party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh – he also said the BJP “cannot let the issue rest with the exposure”.

He also attacked the Gandhi family, and Ms Gandhi Vadra’s husband, Robert Vadra, for having “escaped the clutches of the law for too long in corruption cases”, pointing to earlier scam allegations, including Bofors, Agusta, and the National Herald cases.

Congress vs BJP Over Adani Row

The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has made the Adani issue the cornerstone of its gameplan for this Parliament session. Mr Gandhi is a fierce critic of ties between the Adani Group and the BJP, which has firmly refuted any improper link to the Gautam Adani-led corporate giant.

The Adani Group, meanwhile, has maintained that billionaire and group head Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vineet Jain are clear of bribery charges, and that the indictment fails to offer evidence to back its claim. It also refuted all charges as “baseless”.

READ | “Democratic Deep State Weaponising US Courts”: M Jethmalani In Adani Case

On that occasion too Mr Jethmalani had come out swinging, warning the Congress to provide “public evidence of wrongdoing” or risk “behaving like a local agent of a foreign power”.

READ | BJP’s Nadda vs Congress’ Kharge Over Soros-Sonia Gandhi Link Claims

The row over the Adani issue – the BJP insisting the real story is the Sonia Gandhi-Soros link, and the Congress demanding a discussion on the indictment – has thrown Parliament into a tailspin, prompting adjournments and, this week, a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar.

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New Delhi:

Parliament was adjourned hours ahead of scheduled close Tuesday after a raucous stand-off between the ruling BJP and a bloc of opposition MPs over allegations of links between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and media houses and think-tanks funded by businessman George Soros.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were suspended for the day, but not before Speaker Om Birla lamented MPs dishonouring the House. “Ours is the largest democracy in the world and it fulfils the hopes and aspirations of (over a billion) people. We have to maintain that dignity… but I have seen things happening that are not good,” he said after a particularly disruptive moment.

“Be it members from the opposition or the ruling party, everyone should maintain dignity and work in such a way that a positive message goes out of this ‘temple of democracy’,” he said.

Agreements and disagreements are part of a healthy democracy, Mr Birla told the MPs and urged on both sides to sit across the table and resolve their differences amicably.

Mr Birla’s reprimand came after opposition MPs – demanding discussions on various issues, including the BJP’s Soros-Sonia Gandhi allegations – refused to allow the start of Question Hour. “Please allow the House to function smoothly,” Mr Birla asked as they flagged the Soros issue.

Shortly after the adjournment, BJP MP Sambit Patra blasted the opposition and the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, who is their leader in the Lok Sabha. “Rahul Gandhi ji doesn’t know how to behave like an LoP,” he said, “… and it is unfortunate they are not letting Parliament function.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also targeted Mr Gandhi, accusing him of not believing in parliamentary democracy and claiming that other opposition MPs, including those from the Congress’ allies – the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool – had made similar complaints to him.

“The Congress in Rajya Sabha is looking for debate and discussion (but) it is only Rahul Gandhi who doesn’t want it… Probably he doesn’t believe in parliamentary democracy,” Mr Rijiju said.

The Congress hit back through senior leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is navigating her first Parliament session after winning last month’s Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Parliament adjourned for the day, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra “They (BJP) are scared of discussing the Adani issue. I am new in Parliament but till now the PM was not seen in the Parliament. Why should we not raise this issue?…” pic.twitter.com/rAy6uT2r5z

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2024

“We try, every day to have a discussion, but they don’t want to have a discussion…that is why they get the House adjourned through any reason,” the Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters.

The Rajya Sabha No-Confidence Vote

Meanwhile, across the hall in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has moved a vote of no-confidence in Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, alleging partisan functioning of the House.

The notice – with 50+ signatures from the Congress, Bengal’s ruling Trinamool, the Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Yadav – was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

READ | Opposition Moves No-Confidence Vote Against Jagdeep Dhankhar

Calls for the vote erupted Monday after chaos in the House; this was after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party attacked senior Congress leaders – Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi – over alleged links to businessman George Soros and a media organisation partly funded by his foundation.

The Congress responded firmly through party boss Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Rajya Sabha Chair’s handling of this face-off was what triggered the Congress’ call for the motion against him; Mr Kharge managed to point out Mr Dhankhar was allowing comments against Mrs Gandhi despite rejecting 11 notices by BJP MPs to discuss this issue.

READ | BJP’s Nadda vs Congress’ Kharge Over Soros-Sonia Gandhi Link Claims

The concerted attacks by the BJP come as the opposition tries to raise issues like the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal over the survey of a mosque and the United States indictment against the Directors of Adani Green Energy – a renewable energy company owned by the Adani Group.

It also follows a report by French media company Mediapart that claimed “hidden links between the OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and the US government”.

The BJP has alleged the Soros-founded OCCRP publishes reports “targeting” India, and that these are then used by the Congress to criticise the ruling party and government, and Indian business interests.

The Congress has just as firmly refuted the claim. “We are patriots…” the party thundered in response.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today claimed that the alleged connections between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Hungarian-American businessman George Soros are a “serious” concern. Mr Rijiju said that such matters should not be viewed through a “political lens” and urged a united front against “anti-India forces.”

“It is an important issue that I want to raise without doing politics over it. The links between Sonia Gandhi and George Sores are serious. We do not want to see it by giving a political spin,” he said. 

The BJP has alleged that Sonia Gandhi has ties with organisations financed by George Soros’s foundation. The ruling party claims that these entities have supported controversial stances, such as treating Kashmir as a separate entity.

The BJP claimed Sonia Gandhi’s past role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, which allegedly shared views favouring Kashmir’s independence, is a matter of concern. Additionally, the party pointed to partnerships between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Soros-linked organisations as evidence of foreign influence in domestic affairs.

“We want to run parliament. I want to clarify that some issues are politically driven but if powers outside India are trying to defy India and fight against India then there are serious concerns,” Mr Rijiju said. 

Mr Rijiju dismissed any intention to interfere in Congress’s internal politics but noted that questions about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership were being raised within the INDIA alliance. 

“If Rahul Gandhi is not able to lead the INDIA bloc then it is their internal matter but we have heard that they are not on the same page,” he claimed.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey yesterday announced plans to confront Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Parliament with 10 questions about these alleged ties. Mr Dubey accused Soros and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) of working with opposition leaders to harm India’s economy and defame Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Opposition Reaction

Opposition leaders have rejected the BJP’s allegations. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram dismissed the BJP’s allegations, terming them “dark fantasies” that should be confined to the “dark web”.

“These deep state theories should be confined to the dark web and not serious political discourse,” Mr Chidambaram told NDTV. “People have dark, morbid fantasies and they can continue to have them, and there will be no credence given to all these conspiracy theories. “We are always for the sovereignty and unity of India. We are patriots, we are nationalists and we are doing nothing that is against the integrity of India.”

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav dismissed the accusations as a routine tactic by the BJP, stating, “It has become a habit of BJP to make false allegations. None of their allegations have turned out to be true till date.”

RJD MP Manoj Jha said that the BJP, instead of looking at conspiracy theories, should start probing the allegations. 

“When the government and its top leadership started to look into conspiracy theories, it means there is something that they want to hide. You are in the government, get things investigated,” he said. 

OCCRP And US Involvement

The BJP’s allegations have also drawn attention to the OCCRP, an investigative journalism platform partly funded by George Soros’s foundation. The party claims the OCCRP is involved in disseminating reports aimed at destabilisng India, such as allegations against the Adani Group.

“Rahul Gandhi’s press conference on Adani was live telecast by George Soros-funded OCCRP, which Gandhi used as a source to criticise Adani. It shows nothing but their strong and dangerous relationship and highlights their attempts to derail the Indian economy. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has publicly acknowledged George Soros as an ‘old friend’. It’s something truly noteworthy,” the BJP alleged.

The US government dismissed the BJP’s accusations, with a spokesperson from the US embassy describing them as “disappointing”, as reported by news agency PTI. The spokesperson clarified that US funding supports independent journalism but does not influence editorial decisions. BJP leaders, however, insist that the US “deep state” and Soros-funded organisations are colluding with the Opposition to weaken India’s economic and political stability.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended greetings to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her birthday and prayed for her long life and good health.

Sonia Gandhi, the longest serving Congress president, has taken a back seat from active politics in the last few years for health reasons. She is a Rajya Sabha MP and chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She turned 78 on Monday.

“Greetings to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji on her birthday. I pray for her long life and good health,” PM Modi said in a post on X. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)