In a forceful statement from New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Congress party’s historical handling of critical national security and foreign policy matters, accusing it of ‘diplomatic naivety’ and ‘strategic blindness’.
PM Modi specifically named former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as having made one of India’s ‘biggest blunders’ by signing the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960 with Pakistan.
Citing Nehru’s own words to diplomat TN Gulati — “I hope this agreement opens the way to solving other problems” — PM Modi said Nehru prioritised immediate diplomacy over long-term consequences, leaving India vulnerable.
“He could only see the immediate effect,” said PM Modi. “But this agreement left the country trailing behind.”
Correcting Historical Errors
PM Modi emphasised that his government had now rectified many of these perceived errors.
He cited the effective suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty to safeguard Indian farmers, stating, “Blood and water cannot flow together.”
PM Modi pointed to other significant decisions by Congress that he said weakened India’s strategic position.
He criticised the return of the Haji Pir Pass after the 1965 war and lamented that, even after India held 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war in 1971, Kartarpur Sahib remained across the border.
“With some strategic foresight, we could have changed history,” he said.
He also recalled that in 1962–63, Congress leaders were willing to cede regions like Poonch and Kishanganga in Jammu and Kashmir, proposals that PM Modi said would have caused irreparable damage.
Congress’s ‘Soft’ Stance on Pakistan
PM Modi condemned Congress governments for continuing to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan even after cross-border terror attacks.
“While they sent terrorists to play Holi with blood, Congress held mushairas hoping for peace,” he remarked.
In contrast, he claimed his government revoked MFN status, closed the Attari-Wagah border, and stopped visa processing for Pakistanis.
Further criticisms included the acceptance of third-party mediation over the Rann of Kutch in 1966 and the 1974 handover of Kachchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.
PM Modi said these moves showed a pattern of weakness and lack of strategic vision.
Moreover, PM Modi portrayed pre-2014 India as a nation hamstrung by fear and indecision, contrasting it with what he described as the current government’s assertive and corrective foreign policy.
“We’ve stopped the one-way traffic of terrorism and misplaced hope,” he said.
His address marks a significant moment in his campaign narrative, positioning his government as the architect of a more assertive and secure India, while painting Congress as the source of decades-long strategic setbacks.
Also Read: New India Answers Bullets With Shells: Read PM Modi’s Full Reply To Critics In Parliament
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
