New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on the United Nations and other international organizations, accusing him of echoing former US President Donald Trump’s stance on global institutions. Ramesh took to his X handle, alleging that Modi was “going out of his way to keep Trump in good humour” and questioned the Prime Minister’s statement that these organizations had become irrelevant.
The Congress MP highlighted that India has greatly benefitted from these institutions, stating, “Is the WHO not good for India? Is the WTO not good for India? Is the Paris Agreement on Climate Change not good for India? Has the UN, in spite of all its weaknesses, not provided opportunities for Indian peacekeepers abroad?” He emphasized that while reforms are necessary, outright condemnation of these organizations, as done by Trump and Modi, is unjustified.
Jairam Ramesh’s remarks came after PM Modi, in a podcast with US scientist Lex Fridman, criticized the role of international organizations in addressing global conflicts, citing ongoing Middle East wars and China-US tensions. Modi stated, “The international organizations that were created have become almost irrelevant, there is no reform in them. Institutions like the UN cannot play their role. People in the world who do not care about laws and rules are doing everything, no one is able to stop them.”
The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of aligning with Trump’s narrative and undermining India’s long-standing engagement with global institutions. He pointed out that India’s participation in multilateral organizations has historically strengthened the country’s diplomatic and economic standing. The debate over the effectiveness and reform of international institutions has now become a major political flashpoint between the BJP and Congress, with the opposition questioning Modi’s approach towards India’s global role.
