Modi's Israel visit 'ill-timed', creates perception of political endorsement of military action: Congress

Congress criticizes Modi's Israel visit as 'shameful' and politically motivated, risking India's commitment to a rules-based international order.

The Congress on Saturday (February 28, 2026) termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel "shameful" and "ill-timed," saying it creates the perception of a political endorsement of military escalation which is deeply antithetical to India's historic commitment to a rules-based international order.

In a statement, Salman Khurshid, Chairman of the Congress Foreign Affairs Department, said the Congress is "deeply concerned" at Mr. Modi's visit to Israel from February 25 to 26 at a moment of heightened tensions, a breakout of hostilities and the palpable risk of wider conflict and the palpable risk of wider conflict in West Asia.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (February 28, 2026) announced that his country has begun "major combat operations in Iran" after Israel launched strikes.

The Congress said Mr. Modi's visit is "particularly ill-timed" because it creates a perception of partisan alignment and tacit endorsement of unprovoked aggression could have grave strategic consequences. It also said it risks conveying alignment with and endorsement of an incumbent government ahead of national elections.

"Prime Minister Modi's visit at this juncture creates the perception of a political endorsement of military escalation, which is deeply antithetical to India's historic commitment to a rules-based international order and the United Nations Charter-particularly the prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State (Article 2 [4]) and the peaceful settlement of disputes (Article 2 [3])," Mr. Khurshid said.

Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also that two days after Mr. Modi "celebrated his visit to Israel", Israel and the U.S. began their joint assault on Iran.