Opposition Warns Nation Faces Challenges Due to PM Modi’s Decisions Abroad

The Congress on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, saying that India is “paying a heavy price” for both the substance and style of his international approach amid the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran. The party expressed concern over the government’s response following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a departure from India’s values, principles, and national interests.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of “moral cowardice” for his remarks during his visit to Israel on February 25–26, 2026, just days before the US and Israel launched major attacks on Iran. Posting on X, Ramesh said the Prime Minister’s speech to the Knesset was “shameful” and that India’s diplomatic stance had been “brutally exposed", despite Modi’s self-styled image as a global leader.

Ramesh further criticised the handling of India-US relations, alleging that Modi pressured then-US President Donald Trump to finalise a trade deal, despite subsequent rulings by the US Supreme Court declaring aspects of the deal illegal. “The trade deal is widely acknowledged as one-sided, with India making significant import commitments while the US offered little in return,” he said.

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The Congress leader also highlighted concerns over India’s energy and strategic engagements. He noted that the Modi government had failed to clarify commitments regarding oil imports from Russia and gave China a “clean chit” in 2020, weakening India’s negotiating position after the Ladakh border clash that left twenty Indian soldiers martyred. “The nation is paying a heavy price for both the substance and style of Mr Modi’s foreign policy,” Ramesh said.

The opposition party expressed concern over the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel and urged the Indian government to act to de-escalate the situation while ensuring the safety of Indian citizens living in the Middle East. The Congress emphasised the urgent need for diplomacy amid rising hostilities and called for India to uphold its longstanding principles in foreign policy decisions.

The US and Israel carried out a coordinated military operation against Iran on Saturday, triggering missile and drone strikes across the region. Trump called on the Iranian public to challenge their leadership, escalating geopolitical tensions that have drawn India into complex strategic and economic considerations in West Asia.

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