As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, questioning whether India’s “new normal” is defined by Chinese bullying and governmental “spinelessness.” The opposition’s sharp critique centers on the ongoing India-China border dispute and what it perceives as the Centre’s conciliatory approach toward Beijing.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives, as a pivotal moment mishandled by Modi. “On June 19, 2020, just days after the tragedy, the Prime Minister gave China an infamous clean chit, refusing to acknowledge their aggression,” Ramesh stated, referencing Modi’s controversial claim that no Chinese forces had entered Indian territory. He argued that this stance undermined India’s position and emboldened China.

Ramesh further criticized the Modi government for pushing reconciliation despite failing to restore the pre-2020 status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, as demanded by the Army Chief. “By prioritizing state visits and cooperation, the government is de facto legitimizing China’s territorial aggression,” he said, pointing to the loss of access to 26 out of 65 patrolling points in eastern Ladakh since 2020, as reported in a 2023 paper to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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The Congress also raised alarms over China’s strategic moves, including its alleged support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, described by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Rahul Singh as a “jugalbandi” or collaboration. “Instead of confronting this unholy alliance, the Modi government has accepted it as a fait accompli,” Ramesh alleged on X, accusing the Centre of rewarding China with diplomatic engagements.

Adding to the concerns, Ramesh highlighted China’s massive hydel project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which could have severe implications for India’s Northeast, particularly in terms of water security and flooding risks. “The Modi government’s silence on this issue is deafening,” he remarked. He also accused the Centre of allowing unchecked Chinese imports to devastate India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), unlike other nations that impose stricter trade controls. “This economic leniency weakens India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative,” Ramesh claimed.

During the Tianjin talks, Modi emphasized that cooperation between India and China, representing 2.8 billion people, is vital for global stability, advocating for ties based on mutual trust and respect. However, the Congress questioned whether this approach compromises India’s sovereignty, especially given the backdrop of strained India-US relations due to Trump’s 50% tariff imposition on Indian exports.

As India navigates this delicate geopolitical landscape, the Congress demands transparency on the Modi-Xi agreements and a stronger stance against Chinese aggression, warning that the current trajectory risks normalizing territorial and economic encroachments.

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