New Delhi, Jan 9 — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday claimed that the Union government’s foreign policy “swings like a wild pendulum”, as he questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” over US President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks on India’s Russian oil exports and reports about New Delhi lifting ban on Chinese companies.
Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha inca post on X in Hindi said, “‘I will not let the country bow down’. What is happening today is the exact opposite of that.”
He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cow of not letting the country down.
Citing the examples, the Congress leader said, “Two recent examples- The ban on Chinese companies, in place for 5 years, is being lifted. The sacrifice of our brave Indian soldiers in Galwan was insulted by Modi ji when he gave China a CLEAN CHIT. Now, by rolling out the “red carpet” for Chinese companies, he is showing just how deep the “red color” runs in his “red eye”.”
Citing another example, Kharge said, “US President (Donald) Trump is commenting daily on India’s Russian oil exports. But Modi ji is silent. He is averting his gaze. The “sir” thing looks more like “surrender”.
The Congress president said that “for us, foreign policy means prioritizing national interest above all”.
“But the Modi government has dealt a severe blow to our Non-Aligned and Strategic Autonomy foreign policy.
“The Modi government’s foreign policy swings like a Wild Pendulum-now this way, now that way-and the people of India are bearing the cost of it,” he added.
Even Jairam Ramesh, who is Congress general secretary and communications in-charge took a jibe at the central government and in a post on X said, “Eight months after China gave full military backing (and fronting) to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and was described by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh as one of India’s “adversaries”, the Modi government is now proposing to lift five‑year-old curbs on Chinese companies bidding for Indian government contracts.”
Ramesh, who is a Rajya Sabha member said that this move follows earlier decisions allowing Chinese firms to invest in India’s electronics sector, liberally granting visas to Chinese workers, and comes amid a continuing rise in India’s record trade deficit with China.
“It is part of a broader set of recommendations from NITI Aayog aimed at removing restrictions on Chinese trade and investment in India entirely,” he claimed.
Slamming the government, he said, “This is nothing short of a calibrated capitulation to Chinese aggression, born out of the Prime Minister’s own weakness – as demonstrated most shamefully by his public clean chit to China on June 19, 2020.”
“This humiliating kowtowing is taking place even as Indian troops are denied access to traditional patrolling areas, China maintains its heavy military presence in eastern Ladakh, continues to provoke on Arunachal Pradesh, and builds the Medog dam on the Brahmaputra – less than a year after giving hyperactive support to Pakistan’s attacks on India,” he said.
Ramesh also said that the Prime Minister’s evasions have gone on far too long.
“He (Modi) must now explain his government’s sudden U‑turns on China policy during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament – which has for very long been denied an opportunity to discuss and debate the challenges and threats from China,” Ramesh added.
The remarks from the Congress leaders came after a report suggested that India now proposes to lift five-year-old curbs on Chinese companies bidding for Indian government contracts and Trump’s repeated remarks about India.
