Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sparked a fresh political debate by asserting that the BJP government’s growing friendship with Israel was laid on the foundations created by the Congress party, which had gradually shifted India's foreign policy stance from anti-imperialism to alignment with U.S. interests.

Addressing a Left Democratic Front (LDF) election rally at Karulai on Sunday (June 15, 2025), Mr Vijayan said that India originally had no ties with Israel, and that the country had earned global recognition under Jawaharlal Nehru for its solidarity with Palestine and vocal support for its leader Yasser Arafat.

Congress laid the foundation for Israel ties

The Kerala Chief Minister said that successive governments, including those led by the Congress, paved the way for closer diplomatic and defence ties with Israel, which the BJP has since accelerated.

India was a country with no ties with Israel. But it changed its anti-imperialist policy to appease the U.S., Mr Vijayan said during the rally.

He noted that India is now a major importer of Israeli arms, highlighting how foreign policy decisions have shifted away from earlier ideological commitments to favour defence and strategic interests.

Criticism of India's UN abstention

Mr Vijayan slammed both BJP and Congress for India’s abstention during a recent United Nations resolution against Israel, calling it a sign of moral weakness and diplomatic compromise. He said that the silence of both national parties on Israeli aggression reflected a shared unwillingness to oppose global imperialism.

Over time, India shifted to a pro-Israel stance. This was evident when it abstained from voting on a UN resolution critical of Israel. That is not the India that Nehru envisioned, he said.

Condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran

The Chief Minister also strongly condemned Israel’s recent attack on Iran, which escalated regional tensions earlier this month. He said the attack was carried out with full knowledge that the United States would protect Israel on the global stage, reinforcing the image of the U.S. as a self-proclaimed world policeman.

Israel is emboldened by American support to strike anywhere it pleases. India cannot remain a silent spectator. It must raise its voice against such imperialistic aggression, Mr Vijayan said, drawing applause from the audience.

Nehru's legacy and present-day betrayal

Pinarayi Vijayan used the rally platform to draw a contrast between India's historical foreign policy legacy under Nehru and the current approach of both the BJP and Congress.

He said Nehru had earned India international respect by backing decolonisation movements and leaders like Yasser Arafat, and that this moral legacy was being squandered by present-day parties that focus more on strategic partnerships than humanitarian concerns.

Implications for national politics

Mr Vijayan’s comments reflect a growing effort by regional leaders to inject ideological discourse into national debates, especially ahead of key elections. His speech at Karulai served not only to rally support for the LDF in the Nilambur Assembly byelection, but also to present the Left as the sole party standing by India's anti-imperialist ethos.

The remarks may also be seen as a direct challenge to the foreign policy consensus shared by BJP and Congress, particularly in matters of Middle East diplomacy and arms procurement.

Conclusion

As tensions remain high in the Middle East and India's diplomatic positioning comes under scrutiny, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's remarks serve as a sharp critique of both BJP and Congress's foreign policy legacy.

By drawing attention to India’s shift from a principled pro-Palestine stance to strategic alignment with Israel, Mr Vijayan has reframed the Israel debate within India's electoral discourse, seeking to place LDF’s foreign policy vision in contrast to what he sees as opportunistic realignments by national parties.

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