Cong slams delay in BRICS+ meet, PM’s ‘silence’ on US-Israel strikes

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday asked why the government was not advancing the BRICS+ Summit to shape a coordinated diplomatic response on the escalating West Asia crisis.

The 18th annual BRICS+ Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi under India’s presidency later this year. Ramesh said the grouping -- comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the UAE -- offers an opportunity to deal with the crisis and its wider implications.

However, questioning the timing of the summit, he said, “Why is the self-styled ‘Vishwaguru’ not advancing the summit to put together a diplomatic initiative to deal with the ongoing crisis in West Asia and its impacts? Clearly, he does not want to antagonise US President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

The Congress leader also referred to reports about Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaching out to foreign leaders through phone calls, but asserted that such engagements may have limited impact in comparison to in-person multilateral meetings.

Drawing a contrast with the G20 bloc, Ramesh said the G20 grouping, currently under the presidency of the United States, was unlikely to yield substantive outcomes in the present context. “The G20 this year will not result in anything consequential other than more rants and taunts by the US President,” he added.

The Congress leader also criticised the PM over his speech in the Lok Sabha, alleging that it avoided key global and domestic concerns while focusing on self-praise and political messaging. The PM's “uncharacteristically short speech” did not include any condemnation of the ongoing US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, he said.

He said while Iran’s actions in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz were unacceptable, the continued bombing of Iran aimed at regime change and destabilisation also warranted criticism.

The Congress leader also questioned the Modi’s assertions on India’s economic performance, citing remarks by a former Chief Economic Advisor who recently warned that growth figures during the Modi government’s tenure may have been overstated. He said the government was choosing not to engage with a “credible and concerning” assessment.

He further criticised the government over the PM’s reference to the Covid-19 pandemic, calling the government’s handling of the crisis “catastrophic”. Referring to the migrant crisis, deaths linked to oxygen shortages, and widespread job losses during the pandemic, Ramesh said the country could not forget those experiences and stressed the need for better preparedness for future emergencies.