In a fiery rebuttal, Tamil Nadu BJP has accused the Congress-DMK alliance of engaging in ‘political hypocrisy’ by holding protests in Chennai mourning Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, allegedly killed in US-Israel attacks on February 28.
Spokesperson ANS Prasad, in his Wednesday statement, pointed out that the demonstrations on March 1 and 2 not only reflect a flawed political narrative but also jeopardize India’s strategic interests in West Asia. ‘These actions harm our national priorities,’ he stated emphatically.
The protests gained notoriety when groups tried advancing towards the American Consulate during PM Modi’s Tamil Nadu tour, an act Prasad deemed irresponsible and potentially disruptive to law and order.
He lambasted the opposition for such antics, arguing that protests against diplomatic outposts could erode India’s standing on the world stage. Prasad didn’t spare Congress top brass Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of undermining government policy on Middle East events through provocative statements.
‘Such comments are driven by electoral calculus, weakening unity when our focus should be on safeguarding Indians abroad,’ Prasad observed.
Contrasting this, he lauded PM Modi’s diplomatic outreach, including urgent talks with Gulf nation leaders to secure expatriate safety amid rising regional volatility. This diplomatic agility, the BJP claims, exemplifies responsible governance.
The controversy highlights how global flashpoints are fueling Tamil Nadu’s polarized politics, with the BJP positioning itself as the defender of national honor against perceived opposition opportunism.