New Delhi, August 13: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to foreign policy, stating that diplomacy cannot be limited to merely “hugging” leaders of other countries. He emphasized that India’s foreign policy should be driven by national interests.
While addressing the Congress plenary session on Thursday, Gandhi asserted that the Prime Minister should prioritize the nation’s interests over forming friendships with foreign leaders.
Referring to conflicts involving Iran, he claimed that if India’s leadership had seized the opportunity, it could have acted as a mediator. Instead, he alleged that Pakistan intervened while Modi was left pondering how this occurred.
Gandhi also mentioned that he has been receiving information from within the Prime Minister’s Office.
On the issue of China, he accused Beijing of halting Indian patrols in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the “showy demeanor” of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and PM Modi has completely faltered. He alleged that the central government has contacted newspapers and media outlets to prevent the publication or broadcast of this news.
Discussing the Galwan conflict, Gandhi pointed out that while the Prime Minister claimed that China had not taken an inch of Indian land, the military reported otherwise.
He stated, “What message did this send to China? During negotiations, the Chinese side asserted that we were wrong because our own Prime Minister had said that no land was lost. These individuals have ruined our foreign policy and weakened the country from within.”
The Congress leader accused those in power of lacking an understanding and respect for India’s traditions. He noted that while they refer to matters from three thousand years ago, they fail to grasp the realities of modern India.
Gandhi remarked, “This India can only be understood when people are allowed to speak, but they refuse to do so.”
He recounted an incident outside the Prime Minister’s residence where a police officer whispered to him that he would be removed from the area.
Gandhi also questioned Modi’s avoidance of press conferences, suggesting that he initially thought there might be a strategy behind it. However, after sitting in a room for just five minutes, he concluded that the issue could be resolved quickly.
He claimed that the BJP-led central government is aware of Congress’s strength.
Gandhi shared an alleged incident near the entrance of Parliament where he overheard a BJP leader telling another leader, “He doesn’t fit into any mold, while we do.”
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