Kalaburagi (Karnataka), March 7 Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday criticised the foreign policy of the central government, alleging that India's global standing was being "compromised" and the Centre had "failed" to respond firmly to remarks by senior US officials on India's economic and energy policies.
Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi, Kharge also questioned the "silence" of BJP leaders over the issue and accused them of "focusing on attacking opposition leaders" rather than defending the country's dignity.
"The central government should at least show some shame. They have practically mortgaged our entire foreign policy to the United States. Today our dignity is being valued at almost nothing," Kharge, who is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, said.
Referring to remarks reportedly made by US Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau in Delhi, the minister said the comments indicated how foreign governments were openly discussing India's economic trajectory.
"Yesterday, you might have seen a US Deputy Secretary saying in Delhi that they (the US) will not repeat the mistake they made with China, 'we will not allow India to grow'," he said.
Kharge cited comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding crude oil imports from Russia, amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war.
"Yesterday, the US Secretary of the Treasury said that because of the war, they (the US) have given India a 30-day permission to purchase crude oil from Russia. 'Permission!'" he said, questioning why the Union government had not strongly responded to such statements.
The minister also questioned the Centre over energy policy and fuel supplies, saying there were conflicting claims on India's oil reserves.
He also criticised the alleged silence of Union ministers, including Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
"In Parliament, they claim that we have reserves for 75 days. But oil companies say in press conferences that we have only 25 days. How is that?" he asked.
Targeting BJP leaders from Karnataka, including Union minister Pralhad Joshi, Kharge alleged they were quick to comment on the state government but avoided speaking on issues affecting national dignity.
He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy approach, comparing it with earlier Congress governments.
Recalling an instance involving former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, he said, "She once said she was trying to determine whether India could buy oil from Iran. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clearly told her: That decision is within my jurisdiction, not yours. I will decide, not you."
He added that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had similarly asserted India's independent foreign policy in her dealings with then US President Richard Nixon.
Kharge also accused the BJP and RSS of practising what he described as "selective nationalism", and "issuing patriotism certificates" to others while remaining silent on issues concerning India's global standing.
He further said the public debate should focus on pressing economic and diplomatic issues rather than personal attacks on opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Asked about the LPG refill cylinder price hike, he said, "Please ask the BJP MPs and ministers who chant Mr. Modi’s name every day — where is Modi now?"
"Meeting celebrities like Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda for their wedding celebrations — he (Modi) has the courage for that. But when the dignity of the country is being auctioned, he doesn’t have the courage to speak," he added.
The Minister suggested that it would be better for Modi to show concern about the current crisis rather than merely sending greetings for weddings or cricket matches.
He also remarked that India has a chance to win the upcoming cricket match because Modi will not be attending it.
"Maybe we will win because whenever he (Modi) attends a match, we tend to lose — just look at the data. They (BJP) renamed the big stadium after him (Modi) by removing Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel’s name, but only the name changed — the game didn’t change."