Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 'decimated' India's foreign policy and is creating a 'disaster' foreign policy, charged AICC chief Rahul Gandhi, during a media interaction in Bengaluru on Thursday.
“I wished the PM support as he is the leader of our country I expected the PM to raise the Doklam issue. But our PM went to China after the Chinese went to Doklam. But he did not speak a word about Doklam with the Chinese president. He had no agenda. Did India walk into China without an agenda? The agenda is Doklam, Maldives and Nepal and we are surrounded on all sides. Our foreign policy has been completely decimated across the board,” said Rahul.
Alleging that the PM was taking foreign policy to be a “one man show,” Rahul said, “Our PM views foreign policy as an individual exercise. He is under the impression that he can go and hold a personal conversation with presidents of China and Nepal and everything will magically happen. There is a huge process involved in it, and the PM has to take into account extremely talented people sitting in the foreign ministry. He needs to carry his own people with him. Are there any conversations happening with the finance minister and the defence minister on the strategy? No. It is a one-man show.”
The Congress chief chose to elaborate on the China issue, saying he was “passionate” about it.
“The central challenge in our country is of giving jobs to our people and China is a competitor, a rising power too. We have to manage our foreign policy with extreme care. I see fundamental blunders being committed. I saw a video of a Pakistani Day parade with Chinese troops marching in it. What does that tell you? I see a complete change of Russia with regard to India, as they are supplying weapons to Pakistan, which they have never done before. So, a disaster is being created in foreign policy. Frankly, it is very dangerous for this country. That is why you hear a louder expression from my side,” said Rahul.
During the press meet, Rahul evaded questions on his recent declaration that he would be the next prime minister. Modi, in a counter, had questioned the sanctity of an alliance when the Congress chief was going ahead declaring himself as the next PM, even as the Congress party is still in talks with their future allies.
“Let me remind you, this election is not about me or the PM; it is about the future of Karnataka. The PM wants to distract the people by raising non-issues,” said Rahul, unwilling to elaborate.