PM, EAM must clarify govt’s stance: Congress on Turkey boycott
In the midst of growing tensions between India and Turkey, the Congress party has called upon the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to clarify the government’s stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey. This comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned the Congress for not taking a clear stance against Turkey amid calls for a boycott.
The controversy began when Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized India’s decision to withdraw special status from Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an “internal matter”. This led to a strong reaction from the BJP, with party leaders calling for a boycott of Turkish products and services.
However, the Congress party has taken a more measured approach, saying that the decision to boycott or not boycott Turkey is not up to the Opposition, but rather the government. “Since this question is raised…PM and EAM should immediately clarify their stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey,” said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.
Khera’s statement comes as a response to the BJP’s criticism that the Congress has been silent on the issue of Turkey. The BJP has been vocal in its criticism of Turkey, with party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad saying that the Congress was “siding” with Turkey and that the party’s silence on the issue was “alarming”.
However, the Congress party has maintained that the government should take the lead in deciding its stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey. “The decision to boycott or not boycott any country is not taken by the Opposition, but by the government,” said Khera. “The government must clarify its stance on this issue and not leave it to the Opposition to take a stand.”
The Congress party’s stance is in line with its traditional approach to foreign policy, which emphasizes the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving international conflicts. The party has always believed that the government should take the lead in deciding India’s foreign policy, and that the Opposition’s role is limited to critiquing and holding the government accountable.
In this context, the Congress party’s call for the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to clarify their stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey is a logical one. The government has a responsibility to take a stand on issues that affect India’s national interests, and the public has a right to know the government’s position on such issues.
Moreover, the Congress party’s stance on Turkey is also seen as a response to the BJP’s attempts to politicize the issue. The BJP has been using the Turkey controversy to attack the Congress party, saying that the party was “soft” on Turkey and that it was not taking a strong enough stand against the country.
However, the Congress party’s response has been to emphasize the importance of maintaining good relations with other countries, while also taking a strong stand on issues that affect India’s national interests. “We believe in maintaining good relations with all countries, while also standing up for our national interests,” said Khera.
The controversy over Turkey also highlights the growing complexity of India’s foreign policy. India’s relations with Turkey have traditionally been good, with both countries cooperating on issues such as trade and counter-terrorism. However, the controversy over Jammu and Kashmir has created new challenges for the two countries, and has led to a deterioration in their relations.
In this context, the Congress party’s call for the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to clarify their stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey is a timely one. The government must take a stand on this issue, and clarify its position on whether or not to have relations with Turkey.
Ultimately, the India-Turkey controversy is a reminder of the complexities of international relations, and the importance of maintaining good relations with other countries while also standing up for our national interests. As the Congress party has said, the decision to boycott or not boycott any country is not taken by the Opposition, but by the government. It is up to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to clarify their stance on diplomatic and trade relations with Turkey, and to take a stand that reflects India’s national interests.
