External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave a harsh speech during the 'Operation Sindoor' discussion at a turbulent parliamentary session that was characterised by loud sloganeering and protests from the opposition. He specifically addressed the Congress party's criticisms of India's foreign policy, more specifically with regard to China and Pakistan.
Jaishankar strongly refuted Rahul Gandhi's assertion that Pakistan and China are operating as a nexus, arguing that the close ties between the two nations are a direct consequence of decisions made during the Congress's tenure. "The two countries are in tango because of the decisions taken during Congress rule," the Minister stated, laying the blame squarely on previous administrations.
Taking a pointed jab at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Jaishankar sarcastically referred to him as a 'China guru'. He highlighted that it was, in fact, the UPA government that had initially given undue importance to China and even elevated it to a strategic partner. "There are 'China Gurus'. One of them is the member sitting in front of me (Jairam Ramesh), whose affection for China is so great, that he coined the term 'Chindia'," Jaishankar remarked, referencing Ramesh's coinage of the term 'Chindia' – a portmanteau suggesting cooperation between China and India.
The Minister continued his critique, asserting, "I may lack knowledge about China because I did not learn about China through the Olympics... Some people gained their knowledge of China during their visit to the Olympics. Let's not discuss who they met or what they signed." This appeared to be a veiled reference to past instances of Congress leaders' engagement with Chinese officials.
Jaishankar further escalated his attack, alleging, "They also took private tuitions at their homes from the Chinese Ambassador... 'China Gurus' say that Pakistan and China have close ties... We are aware of it and are tackling it... However, saying that these ties developed overnight, this means they were sleeping during the history class..." This statement implied a long-standing awareness within the current government of the China-Pakistan relationship, contrasting it with what he suggested was a belated realisation or misrepresentation by the Congress.
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Jairam Ramesh had indeed coined the term "Chindia" decades ago, and in 2014, he publicly reiterated his belief in the concept. In an interview with the Chinese state-run Global Times daily in 2014, Ramesh stated, "Ten years ago, when I proposed the concept of "Chindia," the whole idea was that India and China could cooperate and work together to face challenges ahead."
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have been vocal throughout the Monsoon session of Parliament, repeatedly claiming that Pakistan and China are operating in a coordinated "nexus" and questioning the Centre's strategic approach to counter this perceived threat.
Yesterday, during his address in the Monsoon session, Rahul Gandhi claimed that India had misjudged its adversaries. "A few days back I said this in the House and they laughed at me. I said that India’s biggest foreign policy challenge has been to keep Pakistan and China separated... But we failed, and they have destroyed the Indian foreign policy. The Indian government thought that they were fighting Pakistan, and when they arrived, they realised that they were fighting Pakistan and China," Gandhi asserted, underscoring his party's perspective on the evolving geopolitical landscape.
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