Why Priyanka Gandhi’s bags have stirred a controversy

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been making headlines for her choice of totes.

On Monday, the Wayanad Member of Parliament (MP) carried a bag with “Palestine” printed on it, a gesture of support for the people of the conflict-hit region.

And a day later, she seemed to double down, showing up with a new bag bearing a phrase about the plight of Bangladesh’s minority.

The issue was pounced upon by several BJP leaders, who framed it as an attempt to put global issues ahead of local ones.

Here’s all we know about it.  

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s handbags

On Monday (December 16), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen carrying a handbag emblazoned with the word “Palestine” on it to Parliament.

Among the Palestinian symbols on the bag was a watermelon, which is frequently used to express support for Palestine.

On Tuesday, she doubled her stance, by carrying a new bag with a slogan in support of the plight of minorities in Bangladesh.

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The phrase on her bag said, “Stand with Bangladeshi Hindus and Christians,” referring to the attacks on minorities that have occurred in Bangladesh since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown earlier this year.

Vadra’s “bag move” sparked a coordinated protest by other opposition MPs who carried similar bags.

अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्।
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥ pic.twitter.com/qf47VDTdyS

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 17, 2024

In her address at Monday’s Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Vadra asked the government to bring up the matter of Bangladesh’s atrocities against minorities.

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To protect the safety of Christians and Hindus, she urged the Centre to establish diplomatic relations with Dhaka.

A long supporter of Palestinians

Vadra has long been vocal in her support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

However, her gesture as the newly elected Wayanad MP has brought much attention to her stance.

Earlier, she condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for what she described as genocidal acts in Gaza during the Israeli military offensive in October 2023.

The offensive was in response to the attacks carried out by Hamas, the Islamist organisation in control of Gaza, on October 7. Vadra called the situation in Gaza a horrific genocide and accused Netanyahu’s government of barbarism in June.

“It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including Israeli citizens who oppose hatred and violence, to condemn the Israeli government’s actions and demand an end to these atrocities,” Vadra posted on X.

According to PTI, Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, charge d’affaires of the Palestine Embassy in New Delhi, had also congratulated Vadra on her election win in Wayanad last week.

Pakistani politician’s praise

Pakistani politician and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry praised Vadra’s bold statement and her support for Palestine.

Drawing attention to her lineage, he remarked, “What else could we expect from a granddaughter of a towering freedom fighter like Jawaharlal Nehru?”

He also criticised Pakistani politicians, stating, “Such shame that to date, no Pakistani member of Parliament has demonstrated such courage.”

BJP’s criticism of ‘selective activism’

While the Congress MP’s bag drew cheers from her supporters, it came under intense scrutiny from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which accused her of engaging in appeasement politics.

BJP leader Anirban Ganguly called the Congress the new Muslim League and accused Vadra with being ignorant about global affairs. Ganguly went on to say that her behaviour was indicative of a divisive political agenda and an anti-Hindu attitude.

“Right from Pandit Nehru to Priyanka Gandhi, they have always shown their anti-Hindu mindset,” he said.

While speaking to NDTV, Thakur 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. First, it was Asaduddin Owaisi who raised a ‘Jai Palestine’ slogan, and now it is Priyanka Gandhi who brought a Palestine bag to Parliament.”

The head of the BJP’s IT unit, Amit Malviya, charged the new MP with “communal virtue signalling” while claiming to be opposing patriarchy.

“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,” Malviya wrote on X.

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Vadra’s sharp response

Vadra responded to the BJP’s comments by dismissing the criticism as patriarchal.

Speaking to reporters, she said, “No one will decide what I wear. Who is going to decide what clothes I am going to wear?"

“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,” she said, adding, “I have said many times what my beliefs are regarding this. If you look at my Twitter handle, all my comments are over there.”

“Who’s going to decide the clothes I wear now, that’s typical patriarchy”‼️

A woman who wears her heart and her beliefs to her sleeves. Rockstar PGV 🔥#PalestineGenocide #PriyankaGandhi pic.twitter.com/Ye0ZKC0n0r

— Priyamwada (@PriaINC) December 16, 2024

Vadra accused the BJP of distracting from pressing humanitarian issues, saying, “Tell them they should do something about the atrocities happening against minorities — Hindus and Christians — in Bangladesh.”

P Sandosh Kumar, an MP for the Communist Party of India, defended Vadra by claiming that the Palestine issue is humanitarian in nature rather than an appeasement tactic.

“Carrying a Palestine bag is not Muslim appeasement. Those who relate the Palestine issue to a Muslim issue are doing injustice because this is a humanitarian issue,” Kumar told ANI.

He reaffirmed his party’s support for Palestine, describing it as a genuine global issue that requires our collective assistance.

India’s stance on both issues

Concerned about the continued loss of innocent lives, India strongly denounced the terror strikes on Israel on October 7. The government has demanded a ceasefire right away and sustained aid for the people of Gaza.

India reaffirms its long-standing support for a two-state solution, calling for the creation of a viable, independent, and sovereign Palestinian state that can live in peace and security alongside Israel.

The Centre has provided $5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees and sent almost 70 metric tonnes of relief supplies, including medications, since the conflict began.

Bangladesh and India have strong strategic and historical relations. However, there have been concerns raised by recent reports of attacks on minorities since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown.

With inputs from agencies