Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has once again made headlines after carrying a handbag with a slogan highlighting the plight of minorities in Bangladesh. The bag, which read “Stand with Bangladeshi Hindus and Christians,” followed a previous controversy over another handbag emblazoned with the word “Palestine.”
Priyanka Gandhi’s move has reignited political debates, with the ruling BJP accusing her of “communal posturing” while the Congress has defended her stance as a show of solidarity with marginalized groups.
Priyanka Gandhi’s Call for Action on Minority Issues
During the Zero Hour session in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Priyanka Gandhi addressed the concerns surrounding minorities in Bangladesh. She urged the Indian government to take diplomatic action to protect Hindus and Christians in the neighboring country.
“The government should raise the issue of atrocities on minorities, both Hindus and Christians, in Bangladesh. We should discuss this with the Bangladesh government and support those who are in pain,” she said.
ALSO READ: ‘Random accusations won’t suffice’: TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee slams Congress for EVM allegations
Her remarks referred to recent incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh following the political transition earlier this year, which saw the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Backlash and Political Debate
This intervention comes after Priyanka Gandhi’s handbag with the word “Palestine” and a watermelon—a globally recognized symbol of solidarity with Palestinians—sparked sharp criticism from BJP leaders. BJP spokespersons accused her of prioritizing foreign concerns over domestic issues.
When questioned about the Palestine controversy, Priyanka Gandhi strongly dismissed the criticism, 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. I have said many times what my beliefs are regarding this. If you look at my Twitter handle, all my comments are over there.”
The controversy escalated further after a visit by Palestinian Embassy representative Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer to Priyanka Gandhi’s residence, with BJP leaders calling it a case of “communal virtue signalling.”
BJP’s Sharp Response
Union Minister Anurag Thakur criticized Priyanka Gandhi, questioning her silence on the issues faced by Bangladeshi Hindus prior to this. He said:
“Was the bag a statement? Why has she kept mum on issues of Bangladeshi Hindus? It is a big question mark. It is an Indian Parliament. MPs are elected here from across the country to try and raise the concerns of 140 crore Indians.”
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya also weighed in, accusing Priyanka Gandhi of using communal posturing for political mileage. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“At the end of this Parliament session, observe a two-minute silence for everyone in the Congress who believed Priyanka Vadra was the solution. Sporting a bag in support of Palestine in Parliament is crass communal posturing.”
Opposition’s Unified Protest
Priyanka Gandhi’s symbolic protest has inspired other Opposition MPs, who carried similar bags to Parliament as an act of solidarity. The Congress party has defended her actions, stating they reflect a commitment to humanitarian issues and raising awareness about marginalized communities globally.
