Breaking with tradition, government and parties in government are divided on Iran’s stance

NEW DELHI: The US-Israeli attack on Iran and its aftermath, including the killing of its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marks the clearest rupture yet between opposition parties, particularly the Congress and the Left, and the government over worrying developments in foreign affairs, an issue that has traditionally seen some convergence in the interests of the country.India has called for restraint and stressed the need for diplomacy to de-escalate tensions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning attacks on their territory in a phone call with leaders of Gulf states, home to millions of Indians, in criticism clearly directed at Iran. Modi’s visit to Israel just days ago and his invocation of ties between the two countries, coupled with his praise of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were used by his opponents to attack him. The opposition criticized the lack of any condemnation of Khamenei’s killing. Congress viewed the administration’s “silence” and unwillingness to express any criticism of the United States and Israel as an abdication of moral leadership.Congress Party chief Malikajun Haq condemned the assassination of Khamenei and said his party reiterated that it was the inalienable right of every citizen of a country to decide their political future. CPM’s MA Baby said India should take the lead in uniting the global South and condemn “the excesses committed by the US-Israel axis in Iran”. CPI’s D Raja described Iran as a friendly country and said the silence of the government and Modi was disturbing.