Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who made headlines on Monday for carrying a pro-Palestine handbag in Parliament, staged another protest on Tuesday, this time expressing solidarity with minorities facing persecution in Bangladesh.
Accompanied by fellow MPs, the opposition voiced their support for the cause by holding handbags and placards with messages like “Stand with minorities of Bangladesh.” They chanted slogans calling on the government to secure justice for Hindus and Christians in the neighboring country.
Priyanka Gandhi was seen carrying a cream-colored handbag with the words “Bangladesh ke Hindu aur Isaiyon ke saath khade ho” (“Stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh”) written on it.
This protest comes on the heels of Monday’s demonstration, when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra carried a handbag featuring the word “Palestine” to show her support for Palestinians.
Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi urged the government to take up the issue with Bangladesh.
“The government should raise the matter of atrocities against minorities, including Hindus and Christians, in Bangladesh. It must engage with the Bangladesh government and support those suffering from these attacks,” she said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday criticized Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for carrying a bag with “Palestine” written on it in Parliament. Adityanath remarked that while such gestures are made, the state of Uttar Pradesh is sending its youth to Israel for employment opportunities. He highlighted that over 5,600 youth from UP have traveled to Israel for construction-related work.
He further stated, “Every youth is provided free accommodation and food, a salary of ₹1.5 lakh per month, and complete security is also guaranteed.”
Gandhi has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. In October of the previous year, she accused Israel of breaching international law during its military operations. She has also reproached the Modi government for its failure to take stronger steps toward peace. Earlier this year, Gandhi condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, describing the war in Gaza as “barbaric” and urging nations worldwide to denounce what she called “genocidal actions.”
“It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including all those Israeli citizens who do not believe in hatred and violence, and every government in the world to condemn the Israeli government’s genocidal actions and force them to stop,” Gandhi had said in an X post in July.
Priyanka Gandhi was recently elected as an MP from Wayanad, a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala that was vacated by her brother and Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. Wayanad has a significant Muslim population, and during her election campaign, she frequently criticized the Netanyahu government in Israel.
