The symbol has been widely used in protests and demonstrations by tens of thousands of people, all across the world, including by students in the campuses of America and Europe
Times Headline Bureau
On Monday, December 16, 2024, Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Parliament with a beautifully designed bag featuring the word ‘Palestine’ in bold, with the symbol of a half-watermelon, the famous symbol linked to Palestinian solidarity all over the world. The symbol has been widely used in protests and demonstrations by tens of thousands of people, all across the world, including by students in the campuses of America and Europe.
This gesture has been widely appreciated by a large number of people in India who oppose the infinite injustice inflicted on the people of Gaza, with more than 45,000 people killed, including women and children, and also by those who stand in solidarity with the endless suffering and protracted struggle of the people of Palestine against the brutal regime of Israel.
Ironically, and predictably, it drew criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of carrying a “bag of appeasement”. Images of a smiling Priyanka Gandhi showcasing the bag in Parliament was also deeply appreciated by Congress leaders and supporters, and the picture was widely shared by Congress members and party spokespersons on the social media.
This politically symbolic act is not the first time she has openly stood in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine. Recently, she had wrapped a black-and-white keffiyeh (a traditional Palestinian headscarf) during a meeting with the Palestinian Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Dr Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer on December 11, in Delhi.
The keffiyeh too has been worn and displayed by thousands of protesters across the world demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Indeed, many students, in protest, took their degrees wearing the keffiyeh in American universities.
In that significant meeting, Priyanka Gandhi had reaffirmed her strong support for the Palestinian cause, asserting her strong belief in justice for its people. She had also recalled her childhood memories of meeting the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, during his visits to India to engage with former prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. She said that these encounters left a lasting impact on her, deepening her admiration for the Palestinian cause, while strengthening the historical ties between Palestine and India.
In a statement issued by her, she had strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, while voicing her concern over the international community’s lack of response to the devastation. She had expressed profound grief over the destruction and loss of life in Gaza, particularly the tragic deaths of women and children, and extended her condolences to all mothers who have lost their children in the conflict.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed shared a picture on X, praising Priyanka Gandhi’s gesture as an expression of compassion, commitment to justice and humanity, while emphasizing her firm stance that no one should violate the Geneva Convention.
Please also see https://timesheadline.in/en/2024/12/11/priyanka-gandhi-expresses-unwavering-support-for-the-people-of-palestine/