Spokesperson: Shri Pawan Khera: The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department Shri Pawan Khera said that the moral authority and leadership India had achieved through the hard work and deft handling by successive Prime Ministers of the country from different political parties, from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr. Manmohan Singh, has been squandered and shredded with a single stroke by Prime Minister Modi, who has turned into a puppet of the ‘Gangs of Epstein’. The Congress Party condemned the criminal silence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the illegal war on Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was also the spiritual leader of the Shia community across the world.

He questioned the purpose and timing of the Prime Minister’s visit to Israel, just 48 hours ahead of the US and Israel attacking Iran and killing its Supreme Leader. He noted that the whole world is shocked and surprised over Modi’s spineless silence. He saidthatit was not only a humanitarian issue, but India’s centuries-old relationship with Iran, which even the Prime Minister had acknowledged in the past, was also at stake.

Shri Pawan Khera also said that Prime Minister Modi did not and will not visit the Iranian embassy, located hardly a few kilometres away from the PMO, to offer condolences or sign the condolence register there over the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei.

He expressed grave concern over the massive economic impact the war could have on India. “The impact will reach our kitchens”, he remarked, explaining how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is going to affect the supply of crude oil, CNG and LPG.

He said that had Modi not maintained criminal silence, India might have secured some relief, noting that Iran has allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz to two countries - Russia and China. Shri Pawan Khera said that Indian shipping assets worth Rs. 10,000 crores were stuck, including 38 ships and 1,100 sailors. He said that the Ship Owners Association had appealed to the government for help.

He also condemned the attack on an Iranian ship by a US submarine in the Indian maritime backyard in the Indian Ocean. He pointed out that the ship had participated in India’s naval exercise and was effectively India’s guest. Moreover, he added, the vessel was not carrying any weapons as its participation in the naval exercise was only ceremonial.

The Congress spokesperson also said that the government of India should authoritatively refute the claims made by a US veteran that the American forces were using Indian ports. He noted that the denial had come only through the Press Information Bureau, while the PMO and the Defence Ministry had remained silent. Thursday, March 5, 2026