The Congress claimed that PM Modi did not want to “antagonize” US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo credit: X/@netanyahu.
The Congress on Monday (March 23, 2026) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked why the “self-styled Vishwaguru” is not coming forward at the BRICS+ summit that India is scheduled to host this year to put together a diplomatic initiative to resolve the crisis in West Asia.
The opposition party also claimed that Modi did not want to “antagonize” US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the 18th annual BRICS+ summit will be held in New Delhi under the Indian presidency later this year, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the UAE.
“Why is the self-proclaimed Vishwaguru not coming forward at the summit to put together a diplomatic initiative to address the crisis in West Asia and its fallout? It’s clear he doesn’t want to antagonize President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Ramesh said on X.
Congress on the outcome of the BRICS summit
“Mr. Modi is said to be telephoning foreign leaders to discuss the situation in West Asia. This mode of communication has its limitations – no hugs and no finger-wagging and gyaan photos for our El Supremo. However, summits can be more productive and lead to concrete action besides valuable face-to-face confabulations,” the Congress chief said.
The US is leading the G20 this year and it will result in nothing but more bluster and taunts from the US president, Mr Ramesh argued.
Also Read: India’s BRICS summit needs a green and resilient agenda
The Congress last week criticized the government for not releasing a collective statement on the conflict in West Asia as BRICS+ chairman, saying Prime Minister Modi was “degrading” the grouping’s presidency in his desire to “appease” Mr Trump and preserve his “cozy relationship” with Mr Netanyahu.
On Saturday (March 21, 2026), the Congress said the Modi government’s failure to condemn the US-Israeli airstrike on Iran and force a brutal change of government in Iran reflected “moral cowardice” and “political betrayal” of India’s civilizational values.
Mr. Ramesh said Mr. Modi also failed to use his much-touted friendship with Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu to broker a truce.
The more than three-week war showed no signs of abating, with Israel saying Iran resumed firing missiles at it early Saturday, while Saudi Arabia said it shot down 20 drones in just a few hours in the country’s eastern region, which is home to major oil facilities.
Iran has also fired on energy sites in the Persian Gulf countries and is now threatening recreational and tourist sites around the world.
The US is deploying more warships and an additional 2,500 marines, three weeks after the war it launched alongside Israel on February 28.
Published – March 23, 2026 12:12 PM IST
