Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 8-day foreign tour covering five countries has sparked sharp political reactions back home. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut criticized the timing of the visit, alleging the Prime Minister is disconnected from the domestic crises, particularly in Maharashtra, where over 1,000 farmers have reportedly committed suicide in just three months.
Taking a jibe at Modi's frequent international visits, Sanjay Raut said, “When is the Prime Minister even in the country? He is always on tour. There should be a separate Ministry of Tourism and Travel for him.” In a sarcastic tone, Raut added, “He should become an ambassador of travel and tourism. In Mann Ki Baat, he should talk about which countries Indians should visit, what to eat there, which hotels to stay in.”
Raut didn't stop at satire. He questioned the PM's awareness of pressing issues within India, especially Maharashtra’s ongoing agrarian crisis. “In Maharashtra, 1,000 farmers have committed suicide in the last three months. Does Modi ji even know about this?” Raut asked, criticizing what he sees as apathy toward the rural distress.
He also brought up the Pahalgam terror attack, saying, “We still haven’t forgotten the killers of the Pahalgam massacre. Has the Prime Minister acknowledged this?”
The Prime Minister’s current diplomatic mission aims to strengthen India’s ties with several key nations from the Global South. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi’s itinerary includes visits to Ghana (July 2–3), Trinidad and Tobago (July 3–4), Argentina (July 4–5), Brazil, and finally Namibia. During his stop in Brazil, the PM will also attend the BRICS summit, focusing on expanding cooperation between emerging economies.
While the official agenda centers on diplomacy, trade, and global partnerships, Raut's criticism reflects growing opposition concern that pressing domestic issues—such as farmer suicides, inflation, and security lapses—are being overlooked in favor of international optics.
With elections looming in multiple states and public sentiment increasingly fragile in rural regions, the political heat around PM Modi’s foreign engagements is expected to rise in the coming days.
