Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi visited Parliament today, carrying a handbag prominently marked with “Palestine,” sparking sharp criticism from the BJP, who labeled it as “crass communal posturing.”
Known for her vocal opposition to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Priyanka Gandhi had earlier called Israel’s military actions “barbaric and inhuman.” The controversy follows her recent meeting with Palestine embassy representative Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, who congratulated her on her Lok Sabha victory from Wayanad and urged India to advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
“Was the bag a statement? Why has she remained silent on issues like the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus? This raises serious questions,” BJP MP Anurag Thakur told NDTV. “This is the Indian Parliament, where MPs represent the concerns of 140 crore Indians. First, it was Asaduddin Owaisi with his ‘Jai Palestine’ slogan, and now Priyanka Gandhi comes with a Palestine-tagged bag.”
Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell head, accused her of “communal virtue signalling” and declared, “Sporting a pro-Palestine bag in Parliament is blatant communal posturing. Congress has become the New Muslim League.”
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BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, quoted by IANS, dismissed her act as attention-seeking. “People resort to such actions when rejected by the public,” he said.
Responding to the criticism, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Let them address the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh and talk to the Bangladeshi government instead of making foolish comments.”
In July, she had called Israel’s military offensive “a violation of international law” and urged global governments to pressure Israel into halting its actions.
India-Palestine Relations
India’s support for Palestine spans decades, being the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1974. Diplomatic relations were established in 1996, with India’s representative office in Gaza moving to Ramallah in 2003.
The Indian government strongly condemned the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in over 1,000 deaths and kidnappings. It has also urged restraint and emphasized the need to protect civilian lives in Gaza, where the death toll has exceeded 40,000.
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