Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have launched a sharp political offensive against External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, accusing him of undermining India’s foreign policy during his ongoing visit to China — his first in five years. The criticism centers around Jaishankar’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, coming at a time of ongoing tensions in bilateral relations, especially after China’s alleged support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
🔥 Key Allegations by Congress:
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Rahul Gandhi's Criticism:
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Called Jaishankar’s diplomatic efforts a “full-blown circus”.
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Claimed the EAM was destroying India’s foreign policy credibility.
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Mocked the optics of Xi potentially "apprising" PM Modi on bilateral ties, implying a reversal of roles in diplomacy.
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Jairam Ramesh’s Detailed Attack:
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Alleged that China actively supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, using it as a “live lab” to test its military capabilities.
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Cited statements by Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul Singh, who reportedly confirmed Chinese involvement via:
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Real-time intelligence sharing,
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Deployment of J-10C fighters, PL-15E missiles, and combat drones,
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Use of the conflict to simulate network-centric warfare.
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Accused China of economic aggression, referencing:
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Export restrictions on rare-earth materials and tunnel-boring equipment,
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Withdrawal of Chinese workers from India’s Foxconn iPhone plant.
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Parliamentary Transparency Questioned:
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Ramesh criticized the Modi government’s reluctance to allow a full Parliamentary debate on the border issue.
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He compared it to the 1962 war, when Parliament debated even as Chinese forces were invading.
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Supriya Shrinate's Jibe:
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Highlighted Jaishankar’s 2023 comment that “India is a small economy and cannot fight a larger one”, using it to suggest a defeatist attitude in diplomacy.
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Questioned the legitimacy and symbolism of the meeting with Xi amid unresolved tensions in eastern Ladakh.
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🇮🇳 Context: Why This Matters
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Jaishankar’s visit comes amid a slow and tentative thaw in India-China relations, but the status quo along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) remains altered since the 2020 Galwan clash.
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India has continued military deployments and disengagement talks, while China has been tight-lipped and assertive, particularly in forums like BRICS and the SCO.
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Congress is positioning this as a moral and strategic failure, highlighting how geopolitical, military, and economic aggressions by China remain unaddressed.
🧠Broader Implications
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The Congress's criticism is clearly aimed at portraying the Modi government as soft on China, especially with elections approaching and national security being a key voter concern.
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It also signals that Operation Sindoor, previously seen mostly in military terms, is becoming a potent political issue.
