PM Modi and Jairam Ramesh (R)
NEW DELHI: The foreign policy of the PM Modi-led government came under fire from Congress, with one of its leaders levelling serious charges over the timing of the Prime Minister’s “much-trumpeted” Israel visit, just two days before Israel, along with the US, launched military action against Iran on February 28 that eliminated top echelons of Tehran regime, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.He also raised strong objections over the perceived failure of Operation Sindoor’s global outreach, drawing a comparison with the international handling of Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks during then-PM Manmohan Singh’s tenure.Referring to the conflict that began on February 28, Ramesh criticised Modi’s “much-trumpeted” visit to Israel, which took place just two days before the war was launched by the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government alongside Donald Trump against Iran, targeting the top leadership of the regime.He posted on X, “The conflict had begun on Feb 28th with the targeted assassinations of the topmost echelons of the regime in Iran. These had started just two days after Prime Minister Modi had completed his much-trumpeted visit to Israel, a visit that diminished India’s global stature and standing. Mr. Modi had said nothing about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its aggressively expansionist policies in the occupied West Bank. ” Ramesh also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in the ceasefire, describing it as a “severe setback” to PM Modi’s “highly personalised diplomacy.” He argued that New Delhi’s efforts to isolate Islamabad globally have not yielded results.He further claimed that after Operation Sindoor, the government failed to convince the international community that Pakistan is a failed state, something he said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had achieved following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.He added, “The role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire is a severe setback to both the substance and style of Mr. Modi’s highly personalised diplomacy. The policy to isolate Pakistan for its continuing support to terrorism in J&K and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded – unlike what Dr. Manmohan Singh had accomplished after the Mumbai terror attacks. That a bankrupt economy dependent entirely on the largesse of external donors and a broken country in so many ways was able to play such a role calls into question Mr. Modi’s strategy of engagement and narrative management. He or his team has also never explained why Op Sindoor was suddenly and abruptly halted on May 10th 2025 – the first announcement of which came from the US Secretary of State and for which the US President has claimed credit almost a hundred times since then.”In a sharp personal attack, Ramesh also took aim at PM Modi’s global image, accusing him of remaining silent on key international developments, including Israel’s actions and rhetoric from Washington.”There is a palpable sigh of relief everywhere. But now the self-styled Vishwaguru stands thoroughly exposed, his self-declared 56-inch chest shrunk and shrivelled. His cowardice is demonstrated by his silence not only on Israel’s belligerence, but on the completely unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his good friend in the White House.”
