SENIOR Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticised the Union government over the outcome of the recent BRICS+ meeting held in New Delhi, alleging that India’s position on the Israel-Palestine issue contributed to the failure to issue a joint statement and left the country diplomatically isolated.

In a statement, Ramesh said the April 23-24 meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys from BRICS+ nations concluded without a joint communique, pointing to differences among member states, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, over the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He, however, claimed that a major sticking point was India’s push to soften the language on Israel and Palestine.

“While divergent positions between Iran and the UAE are understandable, what is shocking and shameful is that India pushed for diluting the language on Israel and Palestine, which was unacceptable to other members including Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, and Iran,” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader further accused the government of deviating from India’s long-standing diplomatic stance on the Palestinian issue, alleging that New Delhi has shown “steadfast solidarity” with Israel despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, strikes in southern Lebanon, and tensions in the West Bank. His remarks reflect the opposition party’s broader criticism of what it views as a shift in India’s West Asia policy.

Ramesh sharpened his criticism by targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging close alignment with Israeli leadership. “The Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Israel are clearly soulmates,” he said.

The absence of a joint statement at the BRICS+ meeting underscores the complexities within the expanded grouping, where differing geopolitical priorities and regional conflicts continue to challenge consensus-building.—The Statesman (India)/ANN

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026