New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) The BJP on Saturday accused the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi of using falsehood to “praise” Pakistan and criticise India’s stance on the West Asia conflict, and alleged that “INC now means Islamabad National Congress”.
It said some Congress leaders are also holding up a mirror to Gandhi, who has “undermined India’s position simply because he opposes the BJP”.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a series of posts on X, alleged that the Congress had wrongly claimed that Indian vessels such as Shivalik and Nanda Devi were not reaching the country and that India’s ties with Iran had collapsed.
“Facts: seventh tanker of India Green Sanvi crosses Hormuz for India in another big embarrassment for ‘Islamabad National Congress’,” he said, adding that India has not only secured its people in the affected region but has safeguarded its energy interests.
Poonawalla, in a video message shared on X, accused Rahul Gandhi of “continuously spreading falsehoods and politicising foreign policy”.
“Politicising foreign policy has become Rahul Gandhi’s standard operating procedure and that too based on falsehoods,” he said.
“Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition, seems to behave like a ‘Leader of Pakistan’. The same Pakistan he praises is not even in a position to stabilise its own economy. It is struggling to repay loans, and fuel is being distributed in small bottles. Iran and other countries have rejected Islamabad as a mediator,” he said.
Poonawalla accused Gandhi of prioritising “politics over national interest” and alleged that even leaders within the Congress had publicly disagreed with his statements on the issue.
“Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly undermined India’s position simply because he opposes the BJP; Every time national interest is discussed, Congress resorts to petty politics, even on foreign policy. Once again, Congress leaders themselves are holding up a mirror to Rahul Gandhi. Will he accept it?” Poonawalla said.
He cited remarks by former Union minister Ashwani Kumar backing the government’s handling of the situation, and claimed that it exposed the Congress party’s “double standards”.
“After Tharoor, Tiwari, Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma, now Ashwini Kumar holds a mirror to Rahul Baba,” he said.
Poonawalla said Kumar has openly praised the Modi government’s stance on the Iran-Israel war issue while holding a mirror to the Congress party.
“He clearly stated that the contribution of India’s prime minister in these difficult circumstances is commendable.
“This statement of his completely exposes the Congress party’s false propaganda and double standards because, on the very issue where the Congress has been continuously trying to spread confusion, one of its former senior leaders has acknowledged the truth and praised the Modi government’s policy and leadership,” he added.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also said that despite reports of large-scale disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to escalating tensions, India has managed to secure its critical energy supplies without interruption.
“Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and over 2,000 vessels reportedly stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, India continues to secure its critical energy supplies without disruption,” Bhandari said.
“This is not a coincidence, he said and attributed it to what he described as “strong planning, strategic partnerships and decisive diplomacy” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“At a time when global supply chains face uncertainty, India stands resilient. PM Narendra Modi ji understands what’s best for the nation and ensures India’s interests are protected, even in the most challenging situations,” he wrote.
A government statement on Saturday said that Green Sanvi has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz.
“LPG vessel Green Sanvi has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 46,650 tonnes of LPG cargo with 25 seafarers on board,” the government statement said, giving an update on West Asia developments.
Green Sanvi is the seventh Indian-flagged LPG tanker to have transited the strategic waterway, which has remained effectively shut since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s sweeping retaliation.
Separately, an LPG cargo from Iran has arrived at Mangalore and is being discharged, according to the statement. PTI ADI RT RT
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