New Delhi, March 13 – The Congress party on Friday expressed its disapproval of the government's response to the recent assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, claiming that there has been a lack of response regarding the matter, and even Parliament has failed to make an obituary reference.
In a social media post on X, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stated: “Ayatollah Khamenei, the constitutional head of state in Iran, was assassinated on February 28, 2026, by the US and Israel. The Prime Minister is silent. The External Affairs Minister is silent. Parliament has not yet made an obituary reference. India has rightly condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states, but is completely silent on the US-Israeli assault on Iran in the first place. It should be remembered that Iran is a part of the BRICS+ forum, which India holds the Presidency for this year.”
He further added: “In May 2026, the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, was killed in a mysterious helicopter crash. The Modi government ordered a day of mourning on May 21, 2026, and Parliament had an obituary reference on July 1, 2026, when it convened.”
While criticizing the government, he questioned the hesitancy in expressing condemnation, suggesting this has been done to avoid "alienating" the American and Israeli "friends."
On Thursday, Ramesh stated, “The opposition is demanding a discussion in both Houses of Parliament on the situation in West Asia and its impact on India. But the Modi government is adamantly refusing to allow such a debate. It is clearly afraid. Its foreign policy is already brutally exposed.”
The Congress party's criticism comes even as India, on March 5, condoled the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signed the book of condolence at the Embassy of Iran in the national capital. In the past few days, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has held telephone conversations with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
The opposition, led by Congress, has staged protests outside Parliament. The opposition has expressed concern not only over geopolitical tensions in West Asia but also the domestic repercussions, including the reported shortage of LPG cylinders across the country.
The LPG crisis is being linked to military tensions in the Middle East, particularly disruptions caused by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Businesses across several regions, including Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, have adapted by switching to alternative cooking methods, such as induction cooking.