EAM's Parl statement bereft of any laser-eyed insights into paradigm global shift: Cong
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress has termed as "vapid" External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement on the West Asia situation in Parliament and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy "(mis)adventurism" coupled with the government's undermining of the Indian Foreign Service, is pushing India into "vassalage".
In a statement on Monday, the Congress' foreign affairs department, headed by former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, said the EAM's statement "inexplicably" made no protest against the sinking of IRIS Dena in India's strategic backyard, which compromises India's role as a net-security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
Jaishankar's statement neither condemned the targeted killing of the head of state of a sovereign nation nor did it offer solutions to redress the serious geo-economic and geopolitical costs that India is having to bear, and escalations that it may have to face, the party said in the statement.
"The Indian National Congress (INC) expresses grave concern at the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's vapid parliamentary statement on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party government on 9 March 2026," it said.
"The EAM's statement also offered no solutions on how India will diversify our energy security needs or reassert our energy sovereignty, which is being dictated by foreign powers (who are deigning to 'allow' a 30-day OFAC waiver)," the AICC foreign affairs department said.
The EAM's statement also skirted around the issue of how "Prime Minister Modi's ill-advised endorsement" of the war through his recent trip has not only contributed to the perception that India is abdicating moral leadership of the Global South, ironically in a year when we chair the BRICS, but is directly complicit in the dismantling of the rules-based global order, it said.
"The EAM's statement was sadly bereft of any laser-eyed insights into the paradigm global shift underway, or a structured vision for India to better navigate global disruptions, and any resolve to effectively defend India's values and interests in an increasingly unstable global order," it added.
"Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy (mis)adventurism coupled with the BJP government's undermining of the Indian Foreign Service are regrettably pushing India into vassalage, circumscribing the bipartisan strategic and diplomatic achievements since independence," the statement said.
India on Monday advocated de-escalation of tensions in West Asia and called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all underlying issues, as it put the safety of around one crore Indians in the region as its top priority, along with securing energy security and trade.
The US and Israel launched a major military attack on Iran on February 28, killing its 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has so far killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials.
Making a suo motu statement in Parliament, Jaishankar said New Delhi stood for maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region. He defended allowing the Iranian ship to dock at an Indian port as the right decision taken on humanitarian grounds.
He said the Indian government has been constantly monitoring the evolving situation in the region at the highest level and has already brought back 67,000 stranded Indians from the conflict zone.
Jaishankar said the safety of Indian nationals and national interests, such as energy security and trade, remain the topmost priority for the government.
"India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We advocate de-escalation, restraint, and ensuring the safety of civilians," he said in identical statements in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
"The well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our priority. And our national interests, including energy security and trade, will always be paramount," he said.
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BCCI announces Rs 131 crore cash reward for Suryakumar Yadav's World Champion team
New Delhi (PTI): The BCCI on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 131 crore for the entire Indian squad following its third T20 World Cup victory.
The amount covers 15 players, coaching staff, other support staff.
As per sources, the players are certain to get lion's share of the reward money while support staff amount will be decided as per hierarchy.
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The amount is an increment of Rs 6 crore from the Rs 125 crore that Rohit Sharma's team was awarded back in 2024.
"The Board congratulates the players, support staff and selectors once again on this historic achievement and wishes them continued success in the future," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement.
India lifted the prestigious trophy after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, successfully defending the title and becoming the first team in the history of the tournament to retain the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
With this victory, India also became the first team to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup three times, further cementing its place among the most successful teams in the history of the format.
