NEW DELHI — The Indian National Congress on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of damaging the country’s global standing by allowing a decline in the quality of Indian passports and by remaining silent on the conflict in Gaza, which the party described as “Israel’s genocide.”
The opposition party cited a recent report from the World Economic Forum that placed India’s passport 85th in a global mobility index, down from 71st the previous year. Congress said the drop reflects “mismanagement” by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry, which together oversee passport issuance and security features.
In a press conference, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called the government’s foreign‑policy approach “incoherent,” adding that India’s silence on the Israel‑Hamas war “contradicts our longstanding commitment to human rights and international law.” The party urged the prime minister to publicly condemn the civilian casualties in Gaza and to push for a ceasefire through diplomatic channels.
The Ministry of External Affairs, when approached for comment, said India’s foreign‑policy priorities remain “focused on national interest and strategic autonomy.” A spokesperson declined to comment on the passport ranking or the party’s characterization of the Gaza situation.
The passport ranking cited by Congress is based on the number of countries Indian citizens can travel to without a prior visa, as well as the perceived security of the document. The World Economic Forum’s Global Mobility Report, released earlier this month, noted that several countries have tightened visa requirements for Indian travelers, citing concerns over fraudulent documentation.
Human‑rights groups have also criticized India’s diplomatic posture on the Gaza conflict. Amnesty International released a statement in March calling the war “a humanitarian catastrophe” and urging all nations, including India, to speak out against civilian deaths. The Indian government has previously stated that it supports a “two‑state solution” and calls for “peaceful resolution,” but it has not issued a formal condemnation of Israel’s military actions.
Congress’s remarks come ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session, where the party is expected to raise the passport issue in a debate on foreign‑policy oversight. Analysts note that the criticism may be aimed at pressuring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of state elections in several key regions.
Analysis: The Congress party’s focus on passport rankings taps into broader concerns about India’s global mobility and the perceived erosion of document security, issues that have surfaced in past parliamentary debates. By linking this to the government’s stance on Gaza, the opposition is attempting to frame foreign‑policy as a single, coherent agenda under the prime minister’s control. The BJP, which has emphasized “strategic autonomy” and non‑alignment, may view the criticism as an attempt to politicize diplomatic nuances. However, the passport ranking decline, if sustained, could have tangible implications for Indian travelers, businesses, and the nation’s soft power. The party’s call for a stronger stance on Gaza aligns with domestic and international pressure on democratic governments to address humanitarian crises, though India’s traditional diplomatic posture has been to maintain a balanced approach between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Sources
– The Hindu, “Congress targets Modi on foreign policy, cites passport decline and ‘silence’ on Gaza,” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-targets-modi-on-foreign-policy-cites-passport-decline-and-silence-on-gaza/article71189623.ece.
Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
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