Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in the Rajya Sabha on the West Asia conflict, describing it as “an exercise in obfuscation” and seeking answers on India’s foreign policy direction, energy security, and maritime safety.
In a statement posted on X, Kharge said the Prime Minister’s 20-minute speech failed to address key concerns at a time when the West Asia conflict, now over three weeks old, has escalated into a global energy crisis with ripple effects in India. “The 20-minute statement by Prime Minister Modi in the Rajya Sabha was, at best, an exercise in obfuscation,” Kharge said, demanding clarity on whether India’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy had been altered.
He alleged that the Prime Minister’s “inconsistent and swinging diplomatic posture” had shifted India’s foreign policy balance, particularly after his recent engagement with Israel. “Why did the Prime Minister fail to take Parliament and the nation into confidence about this apparent shift, and what concrete steps have been taken to restore India’s strategic autonomy,” he asked.
Kharge also raised concerns over maritime security, claiming that dozens of Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. “Nearly 37-40 Indian-flagged ships, carrying around 1,100 sailors, remain stranded… Why has India failed to secure safe passage for its own vessels,” he asked, contrasting the situation with what he described as smoother transit for ships linked to China, Russia and Japan.
The Congress chief further questioned the government’s assertion in Parliament that India has significantly diversified its energy imports. “If diversification has been achieved, why are citizens still facing shortages, long queues, black marketing, and sharp price rises across the country?” he said, asking for detailed data on current suppliers of crude oil, LNG and LPG.
Warning of what he termed a “deepening energy crisis,” Kharge said the government appeared unprepared for the scale of disruption caused by the conflict. Referring to the Prime Minister’s comparison of the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, “The nation cannot forget the tragic suffering during the pandemic… Is the Prime Minister now suggesting that 140 crore Indians must once again fend for themselves?”
The comments follow Modi’s address to both Houses of Parliament, in which he outlined India’s diplomatic outreach, evacuation efforts and energy security strategy amid the West Asia conflict. The government has said it is in continuous contact with key stakeholders including Iran, Israel and the United States to support de-escalation and ensure stability in vital shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy corridor.
Separately, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks, alleging that the opposition was not allowed to seek clarifications after the statement in Parliament. He described the speech as a “pre-prepared text filled with self-praise” and accused the government of contradictions in its approach to governance and welfare policy.
Ramesh pointed to schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, arguing that the Centre’s positions have been inconsistent over time, particularly in relation to state cooperation and welfare delivery.
The exchange highlights the intensifying political confrontation over India’s handling of the West Asia crisis, which has disrupted global shipping lanes, fuelled energy market volatility and raised domestic concerns over inflation and supply chains. While the government maintains that its strategy is anchored in diplomacy and energy diversification, the opposition has accused it of lacking transparency and failing to provide adequate answers during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.