Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the government’s foreign policy, alleging that it is “compromised” and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to act independently in India’s national interest.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament shortly after Modi’s address in the Rajya Sabha on the ongoing West Asia conflict, Gandhi said, “India’s foreign policy is compromised today because Prime Minister Modi himself is compromised.”
Escalating his criticism, the Congress leader alleged that the Prime Minister was acting under external influence. “Modi only does what the United States and Israel want him to do,” Gandhi said, adding, “Modi can never make decisions in India’s interest, and this is clearly visible.”
Gandhi’s remarks come in the backdrop of the government outlining its position on the escalating conflict in West Asia, which has entered its fourth week and triggered global concerns over energy supplies, trade disruptions and the safety of expatriates. In his address earlier in the day, Modi emphasized India’s diplomatic outreach, energy security measures and evacuation efforts for Indian nationals in the region.
The government has maintained that it is engaging with multiple stakeholders, including Iran, Israel and the United States, to push for de-escalation and ensure safe maritime routes, particularly through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. It has also highlighted steps taken to diversify energy imports and build strategic reserves to cushion the impact of supply disruptions.
The Congress, however, has repeatedly questioned the government’s handling of foreign policy, especially in times of geopolitical crises, accusing it of undermining India’s traditional strategic autonomy.
Gandhi’s latest remarks signal a continuation of that line of attack, as the opposition seeks to corner the government over its response to the evolving situation in West Asia.
The comments also reflect the sharpening political divide over India’s external engagements at a time when the conflict has raised stakes globally, with disruptions in key shipping lanes and volatility in energy markets affecting economies worldwide.
While the government has asserted that India’s approach is guided solely by national interest and a commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, the opposition’s criticism underscores the contentious domestic political backdrop against which foreign policy decisions are being debated.
