NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, suggesting that the PM’s diplomacy is overly associated with hugging foreign leaders.Speaking at the Rachnatmak Congress national convention, Rahul said, “I don’t know where he got this idea from. Strange ideas get into people’s heads. He thinks this is foreign policy,” before giving a big hug to Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.Dikshit then quipped, “You weren’t hugging me thinking I was Meloni?” Rahul replied, “I haven’t reached that stage yet,” drawing laughter from the gathering.Rahul then returned to his criticism, saying, “I don’t know where he got this idea that foreign policy means hugging leaders.”He also questioned India-US relations, pointing to Pakistan’s role in mediating during the Iran war and raising questions over India’s diplomatic positioning amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.“War broke out in Iran. For India—had it recognized its own strength and had its leader been someone like Indira Gandhi—this presented the greatest opportunity in the world. What kind of opportunity? Iran was our old friend, America was our friend, and Russia was our friend. We could have stepped up, become relevant, and leveraged these friendships. But what actually happened? Nothing of the sort. Instead, Pakistan stepped in and took our place; Pakistan became the mediator, while India and Modi-ji simply looked on,” he said.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Speaking about the Arunachal-China situation, Rahul said, “I receive information directly from Modi ji’s office these days; there is a full-blown revolt going on inside. In our patrolling areas—specifically in Arunachal—China blocked us from patrolling. They essentially said, ‘Look, all that is fine—it is indeed your land—but you cannot patrol here'”.The Congress leader has repeatedly criticised the PM Modi government’s handling of the West Asia crisis, particularly its response to US President Donald Trump’s statements and actions in the region. His broader argument has been that foreign policy should be guided by national interests and strategic autonomy rather than the personal diplomacy of the prime minister.
