National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament (MP) Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly ignoring Iran in dealing with the Gulf monarchies that host US military bases amid the ongoing military escalation in West Asia.
Mehdi, a Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, lamented that while efforts have been made by Prime Minister Modi to reach out to the “kings and princesses of the region” – the countries where US bases are located – there has been no meaningful engagement with Iran following the recent US and Israeli attacks that also led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“He speaks tirelessly to the kings and princesses of the region whose pieces of mindless luxury have suffered minor scratches,” the MP said in an apparent reference to diplomatic contact with the Gulf states after the prime minister. Narendra Modi discussed the development of the situation with the leaders of Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
“But he did not show the decency to talk to a nation whose children were massacred in school by America and Israel and whose sovereign and spiritual head was murdered in an act of aggression against all global and human laws,” Mehdi, who is a Shia Muslim, responded to PM Modi’s post about his diplomatic commitments.
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New Delhi’s silence after the killing of Khamenei in the US-Israeli strikes provoked strong reactions from the opposition camp.
Rahul seeks answers from the Prime Minister
Earlier, Congress president Rahul Gandhi also sought answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he supported assassination of the head of state as a way to define the world order. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha said unilateral attacks on Iran as well as Iranian attacks on other Middle Eastern nationsmust be condemned.
“Silence is now reducing India’s standing in the world,” said the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha in X, referring to the Union government’s “silence” on the targeted “assassination” Ayatollah Ali Khameneiwho was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States over the weekend.
PM Modi also spoke to the leaders of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Israel. In all, PM Modi spoke to leaders from eight Middle East countries.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday, India highlighted the interests of one million Indian nationals in the region and expressed concern about the consequences of a possible disruption of power supply to the Indian economy.
India calls for dialogue and diplomacy
In its second statement since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, India again called for “dialogue and diplomacy” to end the conflict, noting that New Delhi has a vital interest in the security and stability of West Asia and the current developments are “of great concern”.
New Delhi said it would continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take appropriate decisions in the national interest, adding that it was in touch with governments in the region and other key partners.
“In recent days, we are not only witnessing the intensification of the conflict, but also its spread to other nations. Destruction and death have been increasing even as normal life and economic activities have come to a standstill,” he added. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said.
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The ministry said nearly one billion Indian citizens live in West Asia and their safety and well-being is a “highest priority” for Delhi. “We cannot be immune to any development that negatively affects them,” it said.
The conflict in West Asia intensified and Iran continued to pound several Gulf countries in retaliation for a joint attack against it. Israel and the USA. The US and Israel have also launched new attacks on Iran.
We cannot be immune to any development that negatively affects them.
As part of its offensive, Iran has blocked the strategically located shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a spike in global oil prices.
