Bhagat Singh, Hamas Both Fought For Land: Congress MP Imran Masood Stirs Controversy

A major political controversy has erupted following remarks by Congress MP Imran Masood, who drew a direct comparison between revered Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The comparison was made during a podcast discussion regarding the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

Masood challenged the classification of Hamas as a terrorist organization by asking, "Was Bhagat Singh a terrorist as well?" He then explicitly stated that a comparison exists because, like Bhagat Singh, Hamas members "are fighting for their land."

The Congress leader justified his stance by focusing on the broader conflict: "Bhagat Singh made the supreme sacrifice for his land. For you, Hamas is a terrorist organisation. I believe Hamas is fighting for its freedom." He shifted the focus from Hamas's 250 hostages to the high Palestinian casualty count, claiming, "you are not looking at 1 lakh people Israel has killed. Israel is the occupier."

The BJP immediately condemned the comments. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to call the comparison an "insult to all freedom fighters." Poonawalla further alleged that the Congress and its allies "eulogise terror groups and undermine all our heroes," citing past instances of similar controversial comparisons involving national figures.

The background to the controversy is the unprecedented October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to a hostage crisis. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian casualties and a major humanitarian crisis.