The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using the recent Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development awarded to Michelle Bachelet, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Chile, as a fresh opportunity to target the Congress party. The BJP's criticism revolves around Bachelet's past remarks regarding India's policies, particularly concerning Kashmir, and the presence of Jagdish Tytler, an individual accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, at the award ceremony.
BJP leaders have launched a series of attacks against Congress, alleging that the decision to honor Bachelet reflects an "anti-India" mindset within the party. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's National Information and Technology Department, described the Congress's decision as "revealing as it is predictable," accusing Bachelet of pursuing a "distinctly anti-India, pro-Islamist narrative" during her tenure as UN Human Rights Commissioner from 2018 to 2022. He claimed that her actions aligned with the "global Left-Liberal ecosystem" that Congress readily embraces.
The BJP's objections to Bachelet stem from her concerns regarding the lockdown in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. During her time as the head of the UN Human Rights Council, Bachelet voiced concerns about the impact of the Indian government's actions on the human rights of Kashmiris. She also expressed a desire to intervene in a case before the Indian Supreme Court related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a move that the Indian government strongly opposed, asserting that foreign parties have no standing in matters concerning India's sovereignty.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's previous statements about Congress's "changed DNA," claiming it signifies an anti-India stance. Bhatia described the selection of Bachelet as indicative of Congress's allegiance to an "anti-India" mindset. He further alleged that the "blood of traitors" runs in the veins of the "fake Gandhi family," and that the Congress party stands with anti-India forces and murderers. Bhatia also criticized Bachelet for raising objections to the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
The presence of Jagdish Tytler at the event also drew sharp criticism from the BJP. Bhatia questioned Sonia Gandhi's sensitivity towards the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, given Tytler's alleged involvement. The BJP's criticism suggests that Congress is not only rewarding individuals with an "anti-India" bias but also seemingly disregarding the sentiments of those affected by the 1984 riots.
The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, instituted in 1986, is administered by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, with other members of the Gandhi family also serving as members. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for their work towards global peace, disarmament, and development. Previous recipients include prominent figures like Angela Merkel and David Attenborough. The BJP's attack on Congress over the award underscores the deep political divisions in India and the willingness of parties to use international events and accolades to score points against their rivals.
