Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he carried the “greetings of 1.4 billion Indians” and a message of “friendship, respect and partnership” in remarks related to Israel, drawing a sharp public response from a Kashmiri opposition leader who said the prime minister did not speak for him.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, a lawmaker from Jammu and Kashmir, responded on social media to Modi’s post, writing: “No, not my greetings. Give them my curses for their illegal occupation of Palestine and the genocide in Gaza.”
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, who is affiliated with the opposition National Conference party, has previously criticised Israel’s military actions in Gaza and expressed support for the Palestinian cause.
Modi’s remarks came during his address to Israeli parliamemt on Wednesday as he began his two day visit to the country.
In 2017, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel, marking a historic shift in ties that were formally established in 1992. Since then, cooperation has expanded across defence, agriculture, water technology and innovation.
The latest exchange comes amid heightened global attention on the war in Gaza following the October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s subsequent genocidal offensive, killing more than 70,000 people in the enclave. The conflict has triggered widespread protests and political debate in several countries, including India.
New Delhi has condemned the Oct. 7 attacks while also calling for restraint, humanitarian assistance and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. India maintains diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.