Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Not even the most ardent fan of Narendra Modi will count the prime minister's visit to Ukraine last week among his biggest foreign policy successes.
The usual spin masters are trying to spread the yarn that India is being the Vishwamitra -- note how ‘guru’ has metamorphosed to ‘mitra’ (friend) in Modi 3.0 -- by engaging both Russia and Ukraine, who are at war.
But former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibbal let the cat out of the bag with a post on X (FormerlyTwitter).
“Zelensky’s press comments on Modi’s visit were most improper. Chided India for buying Russian oil & fuelling its coffers despite India repeatedly explaining its position over several months.. Where was the need to again hector India on this? Said Putin showed disrespect to Modi during his Russia visit by bombing the children’s hospital in Kiev. This is cheap politics. Fundamentally rejected Modi’s peace bid by stating that India could be part of his peace plan but Ukraine won’t make compromises on principles or values. Worse, he said that the next peace summit could be held in India but he told Modi frankly that it could not be held in a country that had not joined the communiqué of the first summit. This is talking down at Modi. On his visit to India he said he wanted India on his side and “not balancing between us and Russia”. This is not mature politics. It is entitlement politics and dictating policy to India.Modi went to Ukraine with the best of intentions.”
One can argue till the entire dairy farm comes home, but some of the sharpest points are being made with humour on the internet. Hence, we bring you some of the memes that had us Rofl-ing.
One X user shared an image with Zelenskyy ‘asking’: "Iske baad Manipur bhi jaoge? [Will you go to Manipur too after this]." while Prime Minister Modi stands silently. Prudent, because silence is the best answer to such curveballs.
Another user compared Modi’s diplomacy to checking fares on Ola and booking a ride with Uber. It’s all about making the best deal, even if it’s a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine! Full savings, full maja!
Someone explained the India-Russia-Ukraine triangle with a picture from the 2007 movie Welcome. Such snark is very unwelcome, we say.
A funny video shows Modi bringing Putin and Zelenskyy one by one for selfies. It seems selfie-explanatory that no global conflict is too big for a selfie joke.
Another post imagines Modi telling Zelenskyy about being "non-biological" with the Ukraine President asking to hear the story about Modi ji stopping the war instead. Ouch! That is below the belt!
