Congress MP Imran Masood Sparks Row After Comparing Hamas with Bhagat Singh

Congress MP Imran Masood has landed in controversy after drawing parallels between Palestinian group Hamas and Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. His remarks have triggered strong reactions from BJP leaders and social media users, who accused him of glorifying a terrorist organization and insulting India's national heroes.

The controversy erupted after Masood’s appearance on a podcast, where the host referred to Hamas as a terrorist group while discussing the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Masood interrupted and asked, “Was Bhagat Singh a terrorist too?” When pressed on whether he saw a similarity between Bhagat Singh and Hamas, Masood replied, “They are fighting for their land. Bhagat Singh also fought for his land.”

He further added, “Bhagat Singh made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Israel has occupied Palestine. For you, Hamas is a terrorist organization, but I believe Hamas is fighting for its freedom.” He also argued that people focus only on the 250 hostages taken by Hamas but ignore “the 100,000 Palestinians killed by Israel.”

Following these statements, the BJP launched a sharp attack on Masood. A BJP spokesperson said on social media, “Imran Masood comparing Hamas to Bhagat Singh is an insult to all freedom fighters.” The party also accused Congress and the Left of glorifying extremist groups to undermine India’s real heroes.

About Hamas
Hamas, short for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Islamic Resistance Movement), was formed in 1987 in the Gaza Strip during the First Intifada. It identifies itself as a Palestinian nationalist organization fighting for independence from Israeli occupation. However, many countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.