'Swings like wild pendulum': Mallikarjun Kharge on Centre's foreign policy; questions Modi on Trump remarks, lifting ban on Chinese firms

Narendra Modi claims he will not let the country bow down, but what is happening today is the exact opposite of that, says Congress president

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.

He said Modi claims that he will not let the country bow down, but what is happening today is the exact opposite of that.

"Two recent examples — 1) 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'," he said on 'X'.

"2) US President 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'. 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," he said.

Kharge was commenting about a report suggesting 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.

"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 said.

Congress general secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh demanded Modi to explain his government's "sudden U-turns" on China policy in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament and said the lifting of ban on Chinese companies was "nothing short of a calibrated capitulation" to Chinese aggression.

Sharing a media report on 'X', he 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."

"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," Ramesh said.

He said 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.

"The Prime Minister’s evasions have gone on far too long. He 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," he added.