In a fierce political escalation, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Friday lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of displaying an appalling lack of understanding about India’s foreign policy, especially during a sensitive time marked by rising tensions with Pakistan. The remarks came during a press briefing where Bhatia responded to Gandhi’s critical statements about the government’s global diplomatic efforts, including its strategic execution of Operation Sindoor.

According to Bhatia, Gandhi’s approach is not only irresponsible but also potentially harmful to India's national interests. He said, “Rahul Gandhi, in his own mind, believes he is the world’s greatest diplomat. But to the people of India, he doesn’t even know the 'D' of diplomacy.” The BJP has made it clear that such comments from the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha could weaken India's stance in the international arena.

Gandhi had earlier accused the Modi government of collapsing India's foreign policy structure and demanded clarity on why India was being equated with Pakistan on the world stage. He even raised concerns about Donald Trump’s past offer to mediate between India and Pakistan, seeking answers from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The BJP, in response, brought up the Sharm el Sheikh joint statement of 2009 signed during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule. The statement controversially mentioned Balochistan, which was viewed as inadvertently legitimizing Pakistan’s allegations against India. This, Bhatia stated, was a major blunder that undermined India’s strategic interests post the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

“Rahul Gandhi must decide which side he is on – India’s or Pakistan’s,” Bhatia asserted, intensifying the political war of words. He went further to sarcastically question whether Gandhi was seeking Pakistan’s civilian honour – the Nishan-e-Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Pakistan is the highest civil award in Pakistan, and the reference was clearly aimed at branding Gandhi's criticism as anti-national.

Bhatia said, “He is acting like an adversary of the country. His repeated undermining of Operation Sindoor – which was a successful retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack – is unacceptable.”

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, was India’s strategic military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the death of Indian civilians and security personnel. The operation saw India targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the death of over 100 terrorists. India’s action was met with shelling and drone attacks from Pakistan, but both sides agreed to a ceasefire by May 10.

While Rahul Gandhi continues to question the lack of transparency regarding aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor and criticizes India’s international posture, the BJP insists that his commentary damages India's diplomatic leverage and security preparedness.

Gaurav Bhatia asked whether Rahul Gandhi had conveniently forgotten the Congress’ foreign policy blunders, especially those during the UPA era, including the notorious 1991 agreement where both India and Pakistan were to exchange military information, which BJP often cites to claim Congress's soft approach towards Pakistan.

The BJP’s criticism comes amid a broader political discourse on national security, with the Congress Party frequently invoking the legacy of Indira Gandhi. However, the BJP continues to challenge that legacy by highlighting decisions and statements by past Congress governments that they believe were harmful to India's strategic positioning.

The friction is further sharpened by the recent airstrikes conducted by India, aimed at neutralizing terrorist hideouts and infrastructure. As India navigates a high-stakes geopolitical landscape, particularly involving Pakistan and its global perception, the BJP has doubled down on portraying Rahul Gandhi as a liability to national interest.

Political observers note that the BJP’s aggression in targeting Gandhi also serves to consolidate its narrative ahead of crucial elections. By casting Gandhi as someone “out of touch with ground realities”, the BJP seeks to bolster its image as a party of decisive leadership, particularly on matters of national defense and international relations.

As tensions in the region simmer and global eyes watch closely, the internal political battle over India’s diplomatic direction continues to intensify. The public and media narrative is currently split, with BJP rallying support on nationalistic themes while the Congress maintains its demand for accountability and transparency, especially regarding the losses and decisions in Operation Sindoor.

The foreign policy debate now seems set to become a central plank in the political battles to come, with Rahul Gandhi's diplomacy credentials firmly under the scanner and BJP leveraging every opportunity to frame the Congress as compromising on national security and sovereignty.

With BJP positioning itself as the defender of India’s global image and Congress striving to question that very image, the Indian electorate is witnessing another chapter in the long-standing political war of narratives. The impact of these verbal duels will not only shape domestic political sentiment but may also subtly influence India’s global partnerships, especially as the 2025 elections loom closer.

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