Rahul Gandhi Questions PM Modi’s Silence After Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader
Congress leaders urge government to clarify India’s stand as West Asia faces rising tensions.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not commenting on the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Tehran and other locations in Iran. Several senior Iranian officials also lost their lives in the operation. Iran confirmed his death the following day, triggering large-scale mourning inside the country, retaliatory attacks, and fears of a wider conflict in the region.
Reacting to the developments, US President Donald Trump described the strikes as a major blow to Iran’s leadership and called on the Iranian people to rise against the regime.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the issue. He asked whether India supports the assassination of a head of state as a way to shape the global order. Gandhi said that India has traditionally followed a foreign policy based on respect for national sovereignty, peaceful dialogue, and international law. According to him, remaining silent at such a crucial moment weakens India’s global standing.
He also condemned both the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on other countries in the Middle East. Gandhi said that violence only leads to more violence and warned that continued escalation could destabilise an already fragile region.
Highlighting the human impact of the crisis, he pointed out that nearly one crore Indians live and work in West Asia. He said growing tensions create uncertainty for millions of families and could have serious economic and security consequences.
“Security concerns are real, but actions that violate a nation’s sovereignty will only deepen the crisis,” Gandhi stated. He called for restraint and dialogue, urging India to take a morally clear position in defence of international norms and human life.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also criticised the government’s silence. She described it as “not neutral but an abdication” of responsibility and raised concerns about the direction of India’s foreign policy. She demanded a full discussion on the matter when Parliament reconvenes for the second part of the Budget session.
Sharing Sonia Gandhi’s remarks on X, Rahul Gandhi again stressed that India must rediscover its moral strength and stand firmly for peace and sovereignty during this global crisis.
The statements reflect increasing pressure from the Opposition on the government to clearly spell out India’s position as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East following Khamenei’s death.
