'To Salvage Dimnished International Image': Congress Takes Dig As PM Modi Sets Off For G7 Summit In Italy

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was flying to Italy to attend G7 Summit to "salvage his dimnished international image."

Congress takes jibe at PM Modi over his Italy visit. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Congress party on Thursday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Italy saying he is flying to the European nation to "salvage" his "dimnished international image". Modi will be on his first international visit to Italy after securing a third term as the Prime Minister of India to attend the G7 summit on the invitation of his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. 

Taking a dig over the fractured mandate that the Bharatiya Janata Party recieved during the recently-concluded Lok Sabha election, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it was "too much" to expect Modi to know or acknowledge the history that India had at previous G7 Summits.

"The G7 Summit of the heads of state of USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan has been taking place since the late 1970s. Between 1997 and 2014, Russia was also a member," Ramesh said in a post on X.  "Since 2003, India, China, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa have also been invited to G7 Summits," he added. 

The G7 Summit of the heads of state of USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan has been taking place since the late 1970s. Between 1997 and 2014, Russia was also a member.

Since 2003, India, China, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa have also been invited to G7 Summits.… pic.twitter.com/4d2aXAOcRl

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 13, 2024

The Congress leader highlighted that the G7 Summit held in June 2007 in Germany's Helligendamm was the most famous from India's point of view. 

"It was here that the famous Singh-Merkel formula for ensuring equity in global climate change negotiations was first presented to the world. It is still talked about. Dr. Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel created history," he said. 

In a veiled jibe at Modi, Ramesh said that Singh emerged as the voice of the Global South through "substance" and "not through hollow self-boasts."

"Of course it is too much to expect from our ek tihai Pradhan Mantri (one-third prime minister) to know or acknowledge this history as he flies to Italy today to salvage his diminished international image at this year's Summit," he added.