Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Hits Back at Priyanka Gandhi Over "Palestine" Bag
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has responded sharply to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's symbolic gesture of carrying a bag emblazoned with "Palestine" to Parliament, highlighting the employment opportunities provided by the state authorities in Israel.
In a statement, Adityanath noted that over 5,600 youth from Uttar Pradesh have been trained and sent to Israel for construction work, where they earn a salary of ₹1.5 lakh per month, enjoy free accommodation, and receive complete security. This move has been part of the state government's efforts to provide skill development and employment opportunities to its citizens. Priyanka Gandhi's actions, on the other hand, have been interpreted as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, following her previous criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza as "genocidal". This stance aligns with India's efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Palestine, including 70 metric tonnes of relief materials and $5 million to the UNRWA for Palestinian refugees.
Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi has garnered praise from former Pakistan minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, who has acknowledged her "courage" in carrying a symbolic bag to Parliament. Hussain's endorsement, despite being from the rival nation, underscores the significant impact of such symbolic gestures in international diplomacy. Notably, Priyanka Gandhi also carried a "Bangladesh" bag to parliament the very next day, encouraging other Opposition MPs to follow suit in a demonstration of solidarity with nations that require international support.
As India-Pakistan relations remain delicate, this rare display of support from across borders may indicate a growing desire for more conciliatory relations between countries. Whether Adityanath's counter-move to highlight Uttar Pradesh's economic ties with Israel will shift the focus away from Priyanka Gandhi's symbolic gesture remains to be seen, but the incident certainly marks an intriguing development in the realm of international symbolism and diplomacy.
