The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly criticized recent remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who appeared to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to several countries during a press conference. Without directly naming Mann, the MEA stated that such comments are “irresponsible and regrettable” and “do not behove” someone holding high office.
During his press conference on Thursday, Chief Minister Mann made light of the Prime Minister’s five-nation tour—covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia—by joking about the names and significance of the countries visited. He questioned the value of the visits and the civilian awards conferred upon PM Modi by nations with comparatively small populations, remarking, “He is visiting countries which have a population of 10,000 and he is getting the biggest awards there. In India, 10,000 people gather to watch a JCB working. What has he gotten himself into?”
The Prime Minister’s recent tour, which took place from July 2 to 9, was aimed at strengthening India’s diplomatic and economic ties with countries in the Global South. PM Modi also attended the BRICS summit in Brazil and was honored with several prestigious awards, including the ‘Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’ in Ghana, ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’ in Trinidad and Tobago, the ‘Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross’ in Brazil, and the ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’ in Namibia. In Argentina, he was given the Key to the City of Buenos Aires.
Responding to Mann’s comments, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the Government of India “dissociates itself from such unwarranted comments that undermine India’s ties with friendly countries.” The ministry underscored the importance of respecting diplomatic relations and the significance of engaging with nations across the world, regardless of their size or population. The MEA’s statement is seen as a clear message to political leaders to exercise restraint and responsibility when commenting on matters of foreign policy and international relations.