Currently, Operation Sindoor is being intensely debated not only in national but also international media, especially concerning India’s foreign policy. The Opposition parties and several quarters are criticising the government for its handling of the Operation Sindoor and its aftermath and are vehemently demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss it.
Since coming to power in May 2014, Narendra Modi has been the first Prime Minister of India who has set foot on the soil of 72 countries in 89 foreign trips in the last 11 years, which is a record.
Parliament was informed that ₹234 crore were spent on these visits. The ruling party and its cohorts often touted these trips as proof that Modi had become a Vishwa Guru. However, Operation Sindoor seems to have exposed the hollowness of that claim. Except for Israel, no country – not even the US – has stood by India. Consequently, both Modi and External AffairsMinister S. Jaishankar are facing significant criticism.
Former External AffairsMinister Yashwant Sinha appears deeply concerned about this failure. In an exclusive interview withRadiance, Sinha stated that Modi wasnot a real strongman – it’s a false image that has now been dismantled by Operation Sindoor. Regarding Jaishankar, he alleged that he was no more than a secretary, while all foreign affairs are controlled directly by Modi.
Eighty-six-year-old Sinha hails from Bihar. Before entering politics, he worked as a professor and later became an IAS officer. He started his political career with Janata Party, then joined BJP in 1990s, and soon rose to become one of its top leaders. However, like Ram Jethmalani and others, Sinha also played a key role in promoting Modi within the BJP.But he broke ties with the BJP in 2018. He had previously served as Finance Minister in Chandra Shekhar’s and A.B Vajpayee’s Cabinets.
Excerpts:
Q: S. Jaishankarsaid that Pakistan was informed in advance before the launch of Operation Sindoor. As a former foreign minister, what is your takeon this?
A: I’ve been told that under a nuclear agreement between India and Pakistan, both countries are required to intimateeach other before military action. Even if Jaishankar did inform Pakistan, first, he should not have said it publicly – that was a grave mistake. Second, has Pakistan never respected anyagreements in the past on its part. There was no need to inform them about Operation Sindoor.
Q:The Opposition is now demanding Jaishankar’s resignation and labelling his statement as treason?
A:Jaishankar has extensive experience as a professional diplomat. But as an external affairs minister, his role in shaping foreign policy is merely symbolic. Everyone knows that in the current regime, Modi himself runs the foreign policy. Jaishankar is effectively just a secretary – not a real minister.
Q: After the ceasefire announcement, the situation that followed suggests US President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to undermine Prime Minister Modi. For example, Trump appeared on television just 30 minutes before Modi’s national address, repeating everything he had already said. Interestingly, Modi didn’t mention Trump or the US even once in his speech. Has India’s traditionally independentforeign policy been compromised?
A: You are absolutely right. We must consider Trump’s personality – he’s a boastful man who doesn’t keep secrets and blurts everything out to the media. Keeping that in mind, we should have dealt with him accordingly. But we didn’t, and now we are stuck dealing with Trump. Modi used to claimTrump was a “my-dear-friend,” but now the same Trump has turned against him.
Q: Modi aspired to become a Vishwa Guru, and his supportersused to beat his drum. In the last 11 years, he made 89 foreign trips to 72 countries – including 10 visits to the US – at a cost of ₹234 crore. He embraced nearly every foreign leader, a gesture that became known as “Hug Diplomacy” or “Hug-lo-macy.” Yet, after the Pulwama terror attack and during Operation Sindoor, not a single country (except Israel) stood by us. Each country issued a routinestatement without naming or condemning Pakistan. As a former foreign minister, how do you see this situation? Is it a foreign policy fiasco?
A: At this point, it certainly appears that Modi’s foreign policy has failed. As you mentioned, he spent massive public funds on extensive foreign trips. He embraced heads of state across the world. Modi seemed to believe that by simply hugging them, they would become his “Mureed”(admirers and disciples)because he thought himself as “Mahaan” (great). If there was any doubt about that delusion, it’s now gone. After the terrorist attacks and military conflict with Pakistan, no country – except Israel and Afghanistan – stood with us. Not even neighbouring countries. This clearly shows that all the time and money Modi spent on global tours have gone to waste. The nation gained no benefit from his foreign policy.
Q: As you mentioned that the foreign policy has failed, perhaps it is a result of that failure that the government decided to send seven delegations abroad, but politics is being played in this matter. First, the Opposition parties are asked to suggest names, but instead of selecting the suggested names, the government includes people of its own choice. For example, in the case of Shashi Tharoor, whom the Congress had not nominated?
A: What the government has done in this regard is wrong. In such sensitive times, political parties are usually asked to suggest names of their representatives, and only those suggested members are included in the delegation. This is not a new tradition. When the UN General Assembly convenes, if a government delegation of parliamentarians is sent, it consists of nominated members from those parties. In this case, the government has acted completely wrongly and politicised the matter. Such an important issue should not have been handled like this.
Q:This attempt is said to weaken the INDIA alliance. You were also a candidate in the presidential election on behalf of this alliance?
A: That’s not entirely true. But the INDIA alliance has not functioned effectively in the past six months. The Alliance should have taken to the streets on various issues and shown unity inside the Parliament, but that hasn’t happened. So, there are problems within the Alliance, and its leaders must come together to resolve them. Otherwise, this Alliance will become ineffective.
Q: Let’s talk about Operation Sindoor. Whenever there is war or conflict, the first casualty is the truth. It’s hard to verify how much truth is in the circulating news. Pakistan is claiming it shot down Rafale jets, but there has been no clear response from our government?
A: I think President Trump has said a lot on this and even offered mediation. I believe Prime Minister Modi should have directly responded and said clearly that Trump is speaking falsely, that he has no role in the ceasefire, and that any remaining issues with Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally without any third-party interference. A strong statement from our PM would have reassured the whole nation. The government spokespersons have said something, but for some reason, Modi Ji has remained silent. This has been our weakness.
Q: Our Prime Minister boasts ofhavinga 56-inch chest. But what compulsion does he have that he doesn’t mention Trump or the US? Is it said that this is because of Adani’s business interests and a case ongoing against him in the US? How much truth is there to that?
A: There’s certainly something significant here. Modi Ji’s silence suggests there is a reason. There’s a case against Adani in a US court, and it seems Modi is trying to protect him. That might be true. But there could be other reasons as well that are forcing Modi to stay silent. He shouldn’t remain silent at such critical times, especially since he speaks on everyissue. His silence sends the wrong message.
Q: We see that the armyis being dragged for political gain since2019. Is it right to drag the army into politics?
A: This is extremely wrong. Nothing could be worse than dragging the army into politics. Since Independence, the military has always stayed away from politics, which is very good for the country. Even now and in the future, the army should remain apolitical. Whether it’s the BJP or any other political party, no one should try to involve the army in politics.
Q: BJP leaders are making inappropriate statements – using offensive language about Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Madhya Pradesh Deputy CMsays the army is at Modi Ji’s feet, and another minister calls Colonel Sofia “a sister of terrorists”?
A: What’s happening is very wrong and alarming. That’s why I stressed that Modi Ji should personally intervene and expel such people from the party. Their statements are intolerable and unacceptable. We stand with the army. The army is remarkable; whatever task is assigned, they complete it. The fault is not with the military–it is with the political leadership.
Q: Now the ruling party is organising “Tiranga Rallies,” and Congress has announced counter-rallies. Does this mean national interest has taken a back seat?
A: The greatest responsibility lies with the ruling party. If we look back at history, in the 2019 elections, Modi himself said in rallies: “Vote for us in the name of Pulwama martyrs.” That was a terrible statement, and now the same terrible statements are being repeated. Modi Ji and the current BJP, for the sake of electoral gain, drag the army into politics and use national security issues. This is a very wrong practice.
Q: Trump is repeatedly claiming he wants to mediate and help in talks between India and Pakistan–particularly regarding Kashmir?
A: I don’t think Trump will succeed in this matter. Even if Modi Ji agrees, this country will never accept it. The people of India will not tolerate Trump or any third power interfering in our internal matters.
Q: Don’t the recent events seem to have damaged Modi’s image as a “strongman”?
A: Modi Ji was never really a strongman! He built a fake, deceptive image. Now the truth is out. If there’s one person whose mask has been removed by recent events, it’s Modi Ji.
Q: The opposition is demanding a special session of Parliament, as has been done in the past in such situations. Why is the Modi government avoiding this?
A: The government knows that it won’t have answers to the questions that will be raised. The discussion would begin with the Pahalgam attack – why wasn’t a single soldier present despite over 2,000 tourists being there? There are many such questions that the government will have to answer. To cover up one failure, they will try to create another incident, then another. But this tactic won’t work anymore.
Q: Defence analyst Pravin Sawhney says that before abrogating Articles 370 and 35A from J&K, the security implications were not considered. As a result, China has fully aligned with Pakistan. What is your opinion?
A: I believe that the government’s claims regarding the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A have proven to be hollow. However, this is our internal matter. Whether China is happy or upset about it doesn’t matter. We don’t need to worry about that.
Q: You were once part of the BJP, but today this party seems to be carrying out every function of government according to its ideology. What’s your take on that?
A: Look, today there’s no ideology left. BJP has nothing beyond Hindu-Muslim politics. They look at every issue only from the lens of how to win elections.