Fawad Chaudhry praises Priyanka Gandhi for 'Palestine' bag

Fawad Chaudhry salutes Priyanka Gandhi’s 'solidarity', claims Pakistani minister's lack such 'courage.'

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Pakistan's former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has praised Indian Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for displaying a bag emblazoned with the word "Palestine" during the ongoing winter session of the Indian Parliament.

In a post on social media platform X, Fawad Chaudhry commended Gandhi for her "courage" and "solidarity" with the Palestinian cause, while also expressing disappointment at the lack of similar courage among Pakistani lawmakers.

Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP, carried the bag with the word “Palestine” printed on it, along with a watermelon symbol – a widely recognised emblem of Palestinian resistance.

Her gesture, made on December 16, 2024, has sparked discussions on political messaging and solidarity with Palestine.

“What else could we expect from a granddaughter of a towering freedom fighter like Jawaharlal Nehru? Priyanka Gandhi has stood tall amidst pigmies,” Fawad wrote in his post.

He went on to criticise Pakistan's Members of Parliament for failing to demonstrate such courage in support of causes that matter to the region.

Photo: ScreenGrab

Some social media users have meanwhile accused Priyanka Gandhi of appeasing Muslim voters, while others suggested the gesture was part of a political stunt.

However, Priyanka Gandhi rejected these claims, stating, "Who is going to decide what clothes I wear now? Who is going to decide that? That's typical patriarchy that you decide what women wear also. I don’t subscribe to that. I will wear what I want."

She also pointed to her past statements on social media regarding her stance on Palestine, saying, "I have said many times what my beliefs are regarding this. If you look at my Twitter handle, all my comments are over there."

 

 

 

 

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Union Minister SP Singh Baghel added that the Congress leader’s choice to carry the 'Palestine' bag was an attempt to consolidate Muslim votes.

He suggested that Priyanka Gandhi could have opted for a "Swadeshi" product to promote Indian craftsmanship and unity instead of making a political statement with the 'Palestine' bag.

However, Priyanka Gandhi hit back at the criticism, urging the government to address the "atrocities happening in Bangladesh" against Hindus and minorities rather than focusing on "useless things." She also expressed her belief that the BJP's attempts to politicise her gesture were misguided.

Priyanka Gandhi, a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, has long supported Palestinian rights. Her stance intensified after the October 2023 attacks, which triggered a deadly escalation in Gaza.

Earlier this year, she condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies in Gaza, describing them as "genocidal."

Israel's ongoing onslaught on Gaza has claimed over 45,000 lives, according to the Ministry of Health in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave. The updated toll, which includes 17,000 children, was confirmed by officials on Monday.