New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra found herself at the center of a political storm after carrying a handbag with the word “Palestine” emblazoned on it in Parliament. The bag, featuring a watermelon symbol—a widely recognized mark of solidarity with Palestine—triggered backlash from BJP leaders, who accused her of indulging in appeasement politics.
BJP leaders, including Manoj Tiwari and Union Minister SP Singh Baghel, criticized Priyanka Gandhi, calling her gesture a calculated move to appease Muslim voters. “Congress does appeasement. They don’t benefit the Muslim community but use these agendas for votes,” said Manoj Tiwari. SP Singh Baghel added, “If she carried an Indian Swadeshi bag, it would support local artisans and industries.”
Responding to the criticism, Priyanka Gandhi firmly rejected the BJP’s claims, calling their reactions “typical patriarchy.” Holding up the controversial bag, she asserted, “Who is going to decide what clothes or accessories I wear? I will wear what I want.”
She came in with a bag supporting Palestine people and spoke about Hindu’s suffering in Bangladesh, stooges in the ruling bench were taken by surprise 🔥👌🏼
Well done @priyankagandhi ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/o7MZJiZdQt— Vijay Thottathil (@vijaythottathil) December 16, 2024
Amid the ongoing political furore, Priyanka Gandhi escalated her stand a day later, arriving in Parliament with a new handbag that read, “Stand with Bangladeshi Hindus and Christians.” The message referenced rising attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government earlier this year.
During Zero Hour, Priyanka Gandhi called upon the Centre to take diplomatic steps to protect minorities in Bangladesh. “The atrocities happening in Bangladesh, against Hindus and Christians, must be addressed. The government should engage diplomatically with Dhaka and ensure their safety,” she said.
The Congress leader’s move sparked mixed reactions. While her supporters applauded her for highlighting humanitarian issues, BJP MPs reiterated their criticism, accusing her of politicizing such topics for electoral gains. Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana remarked, “When rejected by the people, such leaders resort to gimmicks for attention.”
The Ministry of External Affairs maintained India’s longstanding policy on the Palestine issue, affirming support for a negotiated two-state solution where Palestine and Israel coexist in peace.
Priyanka Gandhi’s successive moves—first with the “Palestine” bag and then the “Bangladeshi minorities” message—reflect her attempt to bring global humanitarian concerns to the forefront of Indian parliamentary discourse. However, the BJP continues to see these gestures as calculated steps to consolidate specific voter bases.
Follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube & Instagram to never miss an update from The Credible India