New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his eight-day visit to five nations—beginning with Ghana on Tuesday—Congress MP Jairam Ramesh launched a pointed political attack, branding the Prime Minister as the “Super Premium Frequent Flier PM” in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of “running away” from pressing national issues by taking off on yet another overseas diplomatic mission. This marks the second time in a week that Ramesh has used the “frequent flier” label to criticize Modi’s foreign travels.
“When the going gets tough, the self-styled toughs get going,” Ramesh wrote. “The Super Premium Frequent Flier PM is off on a 5-nation, 8-day jaunt. He is running away from at least four issues that are agitating the nation.”
The Congress MP specifically flagged the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, questioning why the Prime Minister had not visited the strife-torn state. “Manipur, which he has not visited ever since the double engine in the state got derailed and ever since normal life in the state has been destroyed,” Ramesh stated.
While Ramesh criticized Modi’s foreign tour, he also took the opportunity to highlight India’s historical relationship with Ghana. He invoked Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first Prime Minister and President, who led the country to independence in 1957. Ramesh noted the ideological and personal bond shared between Nkrumah and Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, saying it predated Ghana’s freedom.
In a follow-up post, Ramesh detailed that a major road in Accra, where the Indian High Commission is located, is named after Nehru, while New Delhi’s diplomatic enclave features Kwame Nkrumah Marg, commemorating the strong ties between the two nations.
He further highlighted Nkrumah’s extensive state visit to India from December 1958 to January 1959, during which he toured several key cities and institutions, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Mysuru, Pune, and the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment, among others. Ramesh pointed out that one key outcome of that visit was Indian assistance in the formation of the Ghanaian Air Force.
The Congress leader also cited Nehru’s foresight in promoting African studies in India. He recalled that Nehru inaugurated the Department of African Studies at Delhi University in 1955, long before many African nations achieved independence.
