The BJP on Friday attacked the Congress after it selected former Chilean PM Michelle Bachelet for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. The award is given by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, which is chaired by Sonia Gandhi. Trustees include Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Suman Dubey and Kanishka Singh.
Michelle Bachelet is the only woman to have served as President of Chile, holding the post from 2006–2010 and again from 2014–2018. She later served in senior UN roles, including Founding Director of UN Women and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
BJP Objects to Bachelet’s Past Criticism of India
The BJP claimed that Congress should not have selected Bachelet because she had taken positions that “went against India’s sovereignty.” Bachelet had criticised the Modi government in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370. As the UN Human Rights Chief, she expressed concern about the “impact of recent actions by the Government of India on the human rights of Kashmiris.”
She also attempted to intervene in a case related to Article 370 in the Supreme Court of India as amicus curiae. The Centre rejected her request and said, “No foreign party has any locus standi on issues concerning India’s sovereignty.”
BJP Says Congress Has ‘Anti-India Mindset’
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused the Congress of honouring someone who had questioned India’s internal decisions. He linked the award to what he called Congress’s “anti-India DNA.”
“A few days ago, PM Modi had told how the DNA of the Congress has become Muslim-Maoist Congress,” Bhatia said at a press conference. “When India’s oldest political party functions like a Maoist organisation and spreads its network abroad, then it becomes a matter of great concern.”
He added, “Just as the DNA of Congress is anti-India, those who were awarded also attack the sovereignty of India.” Bhatia said Bachelet “questioned India’s actions in Kashmir and said Article 370 should not be amended,” calling these comments “against India’s sovereign decisions.”
Congress Defends Global Recognition Through the Award
The Congress-led Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust has presented the award since 1986 to individuals or organisations working for peace, international cooperation and development. Past recipients include Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Muhammad Yunus, Sheikh Hasina and several global leaders.
Congress sources say the award reflects global contributions, not political positions. They argue that Bachelet’s work at the UN and her leadership on human rights, gender equality and global cooperation align with the award’s purpose.
Global vs Domestic Politics Behind the Clash
Political analysts say the clash highlights a larger trend of India’s foreign policy debates entering domestic politics. The BJP sees Bachelet’s past comments on Kashmir as an attack on India’s sovereignty. The Congress frames her as an international stateswoman who worked for peace and humanitarian causes.
The controversy reflects the widening divide between the BJP and Congress on how India should respond to foreign criticism and international human-rights frameworks. Experts say the issue may continue to fuel political arguments ahead of upcoming elections.
