Amid rising tensions in West Asia,Congress party ramped up its critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 6, 2026. Opposition accused Modi's government of weakening India's global standing and stepping back from its moral leadership in region. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to X,expressing concerns about the Indian passport's declining reputation,while general secretary Jairam Ramesh slammed Modi's inaction on Gaza conflict .
Kharge highlighted alarming passport ranking stats,showing a fall from 74th in 2013 to 80th by June 2026,according to one global assessment. Global Citizens Solution put India even lower at 125th this year. He blamed harmful government policies for tarnishing India's international image,pointing out the gap between Modi's past boasts about passport prestige and current reality . Kharge also noted rising passport fees,jumping from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500,with tatkal fees now at ₹5,000.
Backing his points,Kharge cited tourism numbers showing foreign arrivals haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels,dropping from 10.93 million in 2019 to 9.95 million in 2024. He speculated the government might mask this drop by merging NRI arrivals with tourist data,clouding tourism sector's true recovery. He also criticized visa system,calling it outdated and hard to use.
Ramesh focused on Modi's silence over Gaza events,accusing PM of "stony silence" amid serious allegations against Israel. This quietness got attention after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu invoked India's support responding to U.S. Vice-President J. D. Vance's comments on American aid to Israel. Ramesh labeled Modi a "self-styled,award-hungry Vishwaguru," arguing PM's silence veers from India's ethical norms.
“Receiving an endorsement from Mr. Netanyahu offers no true distinction, particularly as he faces isolation and has sparked frustration, even among Mr. Modi’s allies in the White House,” Ramesh remarked.
