The Congress on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pursuing a "personalised foreign policy", which was "confused and bereft of focus and direction", stressing "grand events and photo opportunities cannot be a substitute to effective diplomacy".The party further said that diplomacy must have depth and gravitas, while adding that BJP-led government has disrupted foreign policy.In its 84th Plenary session, the party noted that the Modi's tendency to disparage his predecessors and diminish India's achievements since Independence has undercut the country's credibility abroad.Moving the resolution on foreign policy, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Prime Minister was known for his "propaganda" and condemned his actions of showing disrespect to the party's predecessors saying: "It is not an insult to the Congress party or its leaders, but an insult to the nation."It is unbecoming of the Prime Minister to abuse the platform of overseas Indians for propaganda, to insult his predecessors. Congress condemns the Prime Minister for portraying India in poor light and belittling the achievement of Indian people since Independence." The party also expressed concern over the conduct of foreign policy in a cavalier manner, "which has damaged India's profile globally and undermined national interest"."Foreign policy has always been marked with continuity with the backing of a strong national consensus. Unfortunately, the BJP government has disrupted it, and its ill-advised actions have unravelled the national consensus."The government is carried away by its own propaganda, and has mismanaged India's relations with major partner countries. Its foreign pplicy is confused and bereft of focus and direction.
"The Prime Minister has pursued a personalised foreign policy. The foreign policy engagements and (Modi's) visits abroad, have been reduced to being purely transactional," it said.The resolution also said that India's approach to China must not only be marked with pragmatism, but also realism. "It should remain our endeavour to work for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues." Noting both countries had reached a broad consensus in taking the relationship forward, it said:"This was enshrined in the strategic and cooperative partnership established between the two countries and the adoption of a set of political parameters and guiding principles for the settlement of India-China boundary question."These should be reaffirmed and continue to be the basis on which, India should engage China."The resolution also said that India should remain committed to concerted international cooperation for curbing terrorism."There is an urgent need to re-calibrate equations with the US, arrest the slide in relations with Russia and improve communication and trust with China. There should be credibility and a ring of sincerity in India's international engagements. "Strengthening of India's relationship with the Russian Federation, should remain central to Indian Foreign Policy," it added.The resolution noted that under the BJP government, the Indo-US relations have narrowed to being transactional."It is important, that India and United States remain focused on a multi-dimensional partnership between the two large democracies. The government has failed to respond to the move restricting H1B visas and free movement of skilled professionals, and in ensuring, that there should be no discrimination against our citizens."