Russian President Vladimir Putin’s landmark two-day state visit to India has resulted in two things: a massive strategic victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a spectacular Congress meltdown.
While PM Modi and President Putin were busy cementing a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” with trade targets of $100 billion by 2030, the Congress party was busy reducing diplomacy to a street fight. The spectacle reached a new low when the Kerala Congress unit unleashed a vulgar, juvenile attack on X, labeling the Russian Head of State as the “New PawPaw” of Modi supporters. The visit has shattered the Opposition’s long-standing narrative that the Modi government is “anti-Russia” or a “western lackey,” leaving the Congress party flailing in desperation.
The “PawPaw” Slur: A New Low in Indian Politics
On December 5, as the world watched the historic “carpool” ride shared by President Murmu, PM Modi, and President Putin, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) decided to mock the occasion.
Their official handle posted a derogatory meme:
The Congress insulted a state guest and India’s oldest strategic partner. The backlash was instant. BJP spokespersons slammed the move as “pettiness at its worst,” forcing the handle to eventually delete the post. But the damage was done. It revealed a party that values cheap social media engagement over national interest.
The “Snub” Cry: Rahul Whines While Tharoor Dines putin
While the Kerala unit was busy posting memes, Rahul Gandhi was busy complaining. In a video released on December 4, the Leader of the Opposition accused the government of “breaking tradition” by not inviting him to the state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
“The government doesn’t want me to meet Putin… We also represent Hindustan,” Rahul claimed, painting himself as a victim of a “dictatorial” regime.
However, this victim narrative collapsed spectacularly when Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, not only received an invite but attended the banquet. Tharoor was seen exchanging pleasantries with dignitaries, effectively endorsing the government’s diplomatic outreach.
The contrast was blinding:
-
Rahul Gandhi: Whining on social media about being ignored.
-
Shashi Tharoor: Engaging in high-level diplomacy at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
-
Kerala Congress: Insulting the guest of honor with filthy jokes.
This internal contradiction exposes a fractured party with no coherent foreign policy vision.
Putin’s Visit: The Strategic Triumph That Hurt Congress
The root cause of this Congress meltdown is the success of the summit itself. The outcomes of the visit have dismantled every critique the Opposition had prepared:
-
Trade & Defense: With agreements to co-produce Su-57 components, upgrade S-400 systems, and boost trade to $100 billion, Modi proved that India’s strategic autonomy is stronger than ever, defying US CAATSA threats.
-
Ukraine Stance: Modi’s affirmation that India is “not neutral against terrorism” while maintaining friendship with Russia undercut Congress’s past attempts to paint the government as weak on the Ukraine issue.
-
Global Stature: Putin’s statement that “Our relation with Modi goes beyond bilateral ties” cemented the PM’s global standing, leaving the Congress narrative of “India’s isolation” in tatters.
The Congress party’s reaction to this geopolitical win—ranging from petty complaints about dinner invites to vile insults on social media—shows a party struggling to find relevance.
Instead of offering constructive critique, they chose to mock a superpower and whine about protocol. The “PawPaw” jibe didn’t insult Putin; it insulted the intelligence of the Indian voter. As PM Modi tweeted, “India-Russia: Time-tested, future-proof,” the Congress was left holding the debris of its own meltdown.
