New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent two-day visit to his home state of Gujarat has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress party and sparked a wider political debate, as the country grapples with rising security challenges along its borders.
At a time when national attention is focused on defence preparedness and diplomatic positioning, the timing and tone of the Prime Minister’s trip have become a matter of controversy.
The visit, which included public events in Vadodara, Dahod, Bhuj and Gandhinagar and interactions with local dignitaries, appeared to focus heavily on projecting the Prime Minister’s personal image. Critics have pointed out that while border areas like Pahalgam , Poonch, and Srinagar continue to remain on high alert, the Prime Minister chose to attend what Congress leaders described as “self-glorifying” events instead of reviewing security operations on the ground.
Congress leadership was quick to condemn Modi’s choice of itinerary. “At a time when India needs strong leadership and decisive action on the security and diplomatic fronts, the Prime Minister has prioritized optics over substance,” a senior Congress leader said. “He should have visited our jawans in sensitive border regions instead of indulging in orchestrated celebrations in Gujarat.”
One of the more controversial moments of the visit came when the family members of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a distinguished officer in the Indian Army, were invited to shower the Prime Minister with flowers during a public event. The gesture was seen by many, including veteran journalists, as an attempt to leverage the army’s sacrifices for political mileage.
A senior journalist who has followed Modi’s political journey for over four decades remarked that he was “disappointed by the Prime Minister’s body language, timing of the visit, and the stage-managed nature of several events.” The journalist added that unlike many of Modi’s previous visits to Gujarat, this one was “marred by unusual controversies and lacked the gravitas expected of a national leader during such a sensitive time.”
Experts in defence and foreign policy circles have also raised concerns over the optics of the visit. With India currently under international scrutiny and navigating complex diplomatic waters—particularly in light of recent ceasefire developments with Pakistan—many believe the Prime Minister’s Gujarat tour was aimed more at consolidating political support ahead of upcoming elections than addressing pressing national security matters.
Veteran commentators believe the visit was strategically timed to reinforce Modi’s image in Gujarat while countering growing criticism from the Congress party, which has accused the Prime Minister of succumbing to international pressure—particularly from the Trump administration—by agreeing to a ceasefire with Pakistan.
As the dust settles on the Gujarat tour, one thing remains clear: the Prime Minister’s latest political move has ignited a fresh wave of debate about leadership priorities, national unity, and the line between politics and statesmanship.
Notably, critics have pointed to Modi’s speeches during the visit, which included sharp political rhetoric and indirect jabs at the opposition, rather than unifying or policy-focused statements. Several of these remarks have drawn severe criticism from Congress, which accused the Prime Minister of diverting attention from real issues. (The writer is a senior Journalist and political commentator)
