
Diminished India's moral standing: Congress slams Modi's address to Israeli Parliament
The Hindu
Congress criticizes Modi's Knesset speech, claiming it undermines India's moral standing and recalls Nehru's views on Israel.
The Congress on Thursday (February 26, 2026) described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the Israeli Parliament as an "unabashed defence of his host" premier Benjamin Netanyahu and one that "diminished India's moral standing".
Hitting out at Mr. Modi, the opposition party also recalled India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's July 1947 reply to Albert Einstein's letter to him on the subject of the creation of Israel.
Addressing the Knesset on Wednesday (February 25, 2026), Mr. Modi described the Gaza Peace Initiative as a path towards "just and durable peace" in the region. He also delivered a message of solidarity with Israel, asserting that "terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere".
"I also carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 (2023)... India stands with Israel, firmly, with full conviction, in this moment, and beyond. No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism," Mr. Modi said.
Congress general secretary, in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh, denounced the speech and dwelt at length on Nehru's words.
"In his address to the Knesset yesterday which was an unabashed defence of his host Prime Minister Modi drew attention to the fact that India recognised the new state of Israel on the day he was born," he said in a post on X.

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