New Delhi, 23 March (H.S.):

Congress on Monday branded the government's position on the West Asia crisis as feeble and inconsistent, claiming it's hurting the nation.

Party media head Pawan Khera told reporters at headquarters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing Parliament on the issue, but a robust foreign policy would have spared India this mess.

Congress never demands picking sides, he stressed – instead urging a clear balanced stand rooted in rules-based global order.

Khera accused the government of dodging clarity. Had it upheld that order, India could have openly called the war illegal – but Modi lacked the guts. He flagged buzz of cutting LPG cylinders to 10kg gas from 14.2kg: if true, that's a massive crisis, and the government must get serious.

The Congress leader noted Israel's and America's strikes on an old Indian ally soon after Modi's Israel trip, despite his cozy ties. Khera also cornered the government on Bangladesh oil supplies while stoking Bangladeshi infiltration fears in election states – demanding a straight policy line.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar