Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha faced criticism for a tweet on Monday. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla expressed surprise that Sinha was considered a presidential candidate by opposition parties, particularly Congress. Poonawalla shared a screenshot of Sinha’s tweet, where Sinha stated his plan to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Papua New Guinea on a ticket endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sinha’s tweet coincided with Prime Minister Modi’s maiden visit to Papua New Guinea, hosting a summit with 14 island countries. It was a historic visit, as Papua New Guinea welcomed PM Modi and even performed a ceremonial act by touching his feet—a rare gesture for leaders arriving after sunset.
Papua New Guinea honored PM Modi with the Companion of the Order of Logohu, a prestigious award rarely bestowed upon non-residents. The recognition was for PM Modi’s efforts in uniting Pacific Island nations and championing the cause of the Global South.
During the forum, Prime Minister Marape referred to PM Modi as the leader of the Global South. Marape acknowledged the challenges faced by their nations due to global power dynamics and pledged support for India’s leadership in global forums.
PM Modi, in turn, emphasized the significance of the Pacific island nations, referring to them as “large ocean countries.” This recognition highlighted their substantial resources and potential.
In summary, the controversy surrounding Yashwant Sinha’s tweet emerged during PM Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea. The visit marked a significant milestone as PM Modi received recognition for his efforts to unite Pacific Island countries and advocate for the Global South. The warm reception and accolades from the Papua New Guinean leadership further solidified PM Modi’s stature as a prominent global figure.