The Dictator That Sonia Gandhi Wants You To Mourn Was No Friend Of India Sonia Gandhi, writing in The Indian Express on 3 March, urges India to mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, framing his death as a betrayal of non-alignment and a moral failure. Her argument hinges on invoking constitutional principles, historical events, and diplomatic ties to justify India’s supposed obligation to condemn the assassination. However, her piece omits critical details about Khamenei’s violent legacy, including his role in the January 2026 massacre, which resulted in over 30,000 deaths, and the regime’s record of executions, including more than 2,200 in 2025. The article also fails to mention the widespread mourning of Khamenei’s victims, such as the families who celebrated his death in Tehran, or the global condemnation of his regime, including statements from Britain’s Defence Secretary and France. Gandhi’s essay positions Iran as a “civilisational partner” and “strategic ally,” citing events like the 1994 UNHRC episode, Vajpayee’s 2001 Tehran visit, and Article 51 of the Indian Constitution. Yet, the piece ignores Khamenei’s decades-long attacks on India, particularly in Kashmir. Between 1990 and 2024, he orchestrated at least eight attacks, including a 1980 visit to Srinagar where he connected with separatist groups. His influence peaked in 2019, when he condemned India’s abrogation of Article 370, calling it an “ugly act.” In 2020, he tweeted in multiple languages urging India to “prevent the oppression & bullying of Muslims,” a message echoed by Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan. India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded with sharp criticism, using the word “deplore” for the first time.#iran #ayatollah_ali_khamenei #sonia_gandhi #indian_express #unhrc
