Delhi evasive on Israeli envoy’s Priyanka remark

Two days after Israel’s Ambassador launched an unprecedented attack on Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, the Ministry of External Affairs today refrained from criticising the diplomat, while the Congress questioned the government’s ‘silence’.

Pawan Khera, Congress’ chairman of publicity and media department, said today “We are surprised at the MEA silence on this unprecedented issue.”

Sources confirmed that ‘no demarche’ has been issued to the Israeli diplomat for his word against an elected MP of India.

Priyanka, in a post on social media platform X on August 12, had criticised Israel for committing “genocide” in Palestine and questioned the BJP-led government for its silence on the matter. The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, responded in an unprecedented manner saying, “What is shameful is your deceit.”

Khera questioned the developments asking the MEA why it was afraid of Israel and chose to ignore the undiplomatic conduct of a foreign diplomat towards a senior leader of India.

On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked at a media briefing whether India would respond to the Israeli diplomat, said: “We are aware of this issue. As far as India’s position on that conflict is concerned, it has been publicly stated on numerous occasions.”

Priyanka had said, “Israel is committing genocide and has murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children.”