New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday criticised the takeaways from Prime Minister Narender Modi’s participation at the G7 Summit in France’s Evian, alleging that he “failed” to stand up for India’s economic interests and energy sovereignty.
“The Indian National Congress (INC) had hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would leverage the G7 Summit in France as an opportunity to assert India’s leadership role in the Global South and stridently defend India’s energy sovereignty, economic interests and strategic autonomy. Instead, the Summit exposed a troubling gap between rhetoric and results,” Congress Foreign Affairs Department and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid said in a statement.
“In his meetings with (US President Donald) President Trump, and belying claims of a ‘close friendship’ with the President, PM Modi was unable either to defend India’s energy sovereignty by drawing a firm line with the President or to secure an OFAC sanctions waiver that would have allowed continued imports of Russian oil.”
“This is a missed opportunity and further compounds the BJP government’s repeated capitulation on matters of India’s energy sovereignty (first by ending purchases of discounted oil from Iran and Venezuela, and then by scaling back imports from Russia). As a result, Indians will continue to face the brunt of higher fuel and consumer prices.”
Khurshid also said that PM Modi “inexplicably stayed silent despite the President indirectly claiming that he engineered a ceasefire after Operation Sindoor”.
“Such silence can only be interpreted as either tacit acceptance of the President’s assertion or an unwillingness to publicly challenge it. It also erodes India’s long-standing foreign policy principle of not tolerating any third-party mediation in bilateral matters,” he said.
Furthermore, the US President’s public offer of “support” to PM Modi carries profound implications since it could either mean an offer to intervene in India’s domestic political affairs or a security commitment in the event of external aggression, he said.
Khurshid also raised questions on the government’s diplomacy. “It is also a matter of deep concern that PM Modi did nothing to redress India’s increasing geopolitical isolation (brought about by the BJP government’s myopic foreign policy) or counter Pakistan outmanoeuvring India in the evolving US-Iran ceasefire,” he said.
He said PM Modi also failed to secure favourable terms in the trade deal while India continues to face economic warfare.
“As the US President’s public proclamations of ‘friendship’ with PM Modi have been complemented with continuous anti-India actions and rhetoric, PM Modi must not prioritise his friendship with the US President over Indian interests…India’s interests must remain paramount, irrespective of who occupies the White House or South Block,” said Khurshid.
IANS
PM Modi finds Banaras connection in Bratislava, says ‘art, culture bring people closer’
Bratislava: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted a unique cultural connection between India and Slovakia after witnessing an exhibition on Varanasi at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, saying...
‘Undermines institutional neutrality’: K.C. Venugopal slams Kerala VCs who attended RSS event, demands resignation
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, on Monday launched a strong political attack on three Kerala Vice Chancellors who attended an RSS centenary-related programme, describing their participation as contravening...
Foreign Secy Vikram Misri highlights indigenisation as key pillar for Rafale deal
Nice: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday highlighted indigenisation as a key pillar of the Rafale fighter jet deal with France, reaffirming India's commitment to defence self-reliance and strengthening domestic...
Trump approval slips as inflation climbs
Washington: US President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level of his second term as inflation continues to weigh on voters and Democrats hold a modest advantage...
Actor Raghava Lawrence signals political entry in TN, says he has taken ‘positive decision’ after public backing
Chennai: Actor, choreographer and filmmaker Raghava Lawrence has strongly hinted at entering active politics in Tamil Nadu, stating that he has taken a “positive decision” after receiving overwhelming encouragement from...
El Nino likely to impact food prices, inflation projected to settle in 5.2–5.5 pc range in FY27
New Delhi: There is 80 per cent likelihood of an El Nino event during the June–August period and probabilities for this, to continue until at least November, are near or...
‘Hug row’ opens INDIA bloc cracks as Pinarayi Vijayan takes on Rahul Gandhi
Thiruvananthapuram: The simmering differences within the Opposition INDIA bloc have burst into the open as Leader of Opposition in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Congress...
‘Old method of BJP’: Trinamool’s Kirti Azad on raids against Madan Mitra, Abhishek Banerjee
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the BJP following raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against party leader Madan Mitra and...
‘Political vendetta’: Trinamool’s Sagarika Ghose on early morning raid at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence
Kolkata: Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose expressed scathing criticism of the early morning police raid at the residence of party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee to track his absconding aide....
Whatever happening is immoral, unethical, says Saugata Roy amid growing crisis in Trinamool
Kolkata: Amid the growing rift in the Trinamool Congress, party MP Saugata Roy on Friday said that some of his fellow lawmakers are claiming they did not sign any document,...
AI race with China takes centre stage in US Senate hearing
Washington: US lawmakers from both parties warned that America risks losing its technological edge to China unless it strengthens safeguards around artificial intelligence, as a Senate hearing highlighted growing concerns...
