Stop being in denial of foreign policy failures: Cong to EAM

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 19

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma today said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar should stop being in denial of foreign policy failures and stop politicising the armed forces.

In a series of tweets today, Sharma said, "Amused by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's defence of a directionless foreign policy. Rhetoric and tweets do not change the ground reality. Neighbourhood first has been a priority of India's foreign policy, but sadly derailed by a cavalier approach," Sharma said, adding that India and Nepal shared a relationship based on trust, friendship and mutual respect, and the present drift and tension are a matter of national concern.

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'Tweets don't change ground reality'

Amused by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's defence of a directionless foreign policy. Rhetoric and tweets do not change ground reality. Neighbourhood first has been a priority of India's foreign policy but sadly derailed by a cavalier approach—Anand Sharma, senior Ccongress leader

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"The Foreign Minister cannot have the luxury of denial but should answer for the failures. Foreign policy must have gravitas and depth. Engagements with strategic partners demand seriousness and cannot be trivialised and reduced to event management. You may create illusions by your optics, but history will judge you by outcomes," Sharma said after Jaishankar had rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the latter's claims that India's relations with the world were flailing.

Hitting back, Sharma today said Jaishankar's reference to Mumbai terror attack was oddly out of place.

"India's response was robust and mobilisation of international support exposed and isolated Pakistan. Why use Balakote, Uri and every brave action of Indian armed forces for partisan propaganda? Every Indian is proud of them. Do I have to remind that the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy existed before May 2014 and their heroics and valour respected globally? The Army belongs to the nation and fights under the tricolour. Advising in national interest. Do not politicise or monopolise our defence forces," Sharma said.

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