Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 17: The Congress on Monday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks in a podcast regarding the relevance of global organizations, alleging that he is aligning with US President Donald Trump’s stance.

In an interaction with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Modi spoke about the need for synchronisation and collaboration to drive global progress. He also questioned the effectiveness of international institutions like the United Nations, stating that their failure to evolve has sparked debates on their relevance.

Reacting sharply, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of trying to please Trump. "Modi is clearly going out of his way to keep Trump in good humour. He says international organisations, from which India has benefited immensely, have become irrelevant. This is the US President’s language," Ramesh said.

He questioned whether institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Climate Agreement were not beneficial for India. He also highlighted India's contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.

While acknowledging the need for reforms in multilateral organizations, Ramesh criticized both Modi and Trump for what he called a ‘wholesale condemnation’ of these institutions.
In the podcast, Modi praised Trump as a leader who takes independent decisions and prioritizes national interests. He also recalled Trump’s resilience when he survived an assassination attempt last year.

The Congress, however, viewed Modi’s comments as a sign of his growing affinity with Trump’s ideology, fueling a fresh political debate.