A resolution adopted at the party's 84th Plenary session describes it highly 'personalised, confused and bereft of focus and direction'
Even as the NDA government claims that India's global stature has grown over the past four years, the Opposition Congress on Sunday attacked PM Modi's foreign policy, describing it highly "personalised, confused and bereft of focus and direction".
A resolution adopted at the party's 84th Plenary session noted that the PM had a tendency to disparage his predecessors and diminish India's achievements since Independence, which has undercut the country's credibility abroad. The resolution, however, supported actions against Pakistan, which has resorted to hostile actions, including shelling by its Army along borders and the LOC. "There cannot be two opinions, that these actions require an appropriate response," the resolution stated. But in the same breath, it regretted the tendency making Pakistan policy a divisive domestic issue for electoral gains. Describing government's Pakistan policy a disaster, the resolution called for a review based on a national consensus with a focus on both current and long-term objectives.
Moving the resolution on foreign policy, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Prime Minister was known for his "propaganda" and expressed concern over the conduct of foreign policy in a cavalier manner, claiming that it has damaged India's profile and undermined national interest. The resolution vowed to correct foreign policy and return to the world view of Jawaharlal Nehru, once Congress and its allies return to power.
"We shall remove the incompetent government which has damaged our international engagements, our policy, our credibility, and we reassure our friends that we stand with you as Congress always did," Sharma said. Significantly, the party mentioned the contribution of Narasimha Rao along with Nehru-Gandhi family members, saying he steadfastly pursued a foreign policy that upheld India's sovereign interest.
Referring to developments in Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, the resolution noted that India's clout has diminished in the neighbourhood, affecting its aspirations to play a meaningful role in the Asian region and the world. It called for urgent need to recalibrate equations with the US, arrest the slide in relations with Russia and improve communication and trust with China. It also said a nexus between China and Pakistan was posing challenge to regional balance and stability.
On the United States, Congress expressed concern that the BJP government has narrowed down relations to just transactional. "It is important that India and United States remain focused on a multi-dimensional partnership between the two large democracies," the resolution said.
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