The Congress on Tuesday described India’s apparent exclusion from the G7 summit in Canada as “yet another significant diplomatic misstep,” compounding the “error” of permitting US mediation in India-Pakistan relations.

The summit, scheduled for 15–17 June in Alberta, Canada, is set to address global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and West Asia tensions.

Reports indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, marking his first absence in six years.

Ottawa has reportedly not extended an invitation to Modi, though insiders suggest he would have declined regardless, given the strained India-Canada relations, which would necessitate extensive preparatory work.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, highlighted the summit’s attendees, including the leaders of the US, France, UK, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Canada, alongside invited presidents of Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Ukraine, and Australia’s prime minister.

In a post on X, Ramesh recalled, “Before 2014, the G7 was the G8, including Russia. Dr. Manmohan Singh was a regular invitee to G8 summits, where his contributions, like the Singh-Merkel climate change formula unveiled in Germany in June 2007, were valued.”

Ramesh noted that the tradition of inviting Indian prime ministers persisted post-2014, but Modi’s absence from the Canada summit represents a break.

He stated, “Despite any spin, this is a major diplomatic blunder, following the folly of allowing the US to reverse decades of Indian foreign policy by mediating between India and Pakistan and endorsing talks at a ‘neutral site’.”

Ties between India and Canada deteriorated sharply after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 allegations of potential Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, further complicating bilateral relations and contributing to the current diplomatic standoff.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not removing his shoes while paying tribute to a statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, describing the act as contrary to Indian cultural values.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Bhopal on a one-day trip. Upon arriving, the former Congress president offered floral tributes at a life-size statue of Indira Gandhi, his grandmother, located outside the state party headquarters.

A video of the event, widely circulated on social media, showed Gandhi wearing shoes during the tribute, prompting backlash.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the state BJP office, Chief Minister Yadav remarked, “The Leader of Opposition is welcome in our state—it’s a democracy, and everyone has the right to visit. However, offering floral tributes to his Dadi ji (grandmother) without removing his shoes was inappropriate. This goes against our sanskar (culture). He should be mindful of this.”

Yadav added, “We are sensitive to our cultural values, and such gestures evoke emotion. Still, there’s no issue with his visit, as people from all parties should engage in democratic activities.”

Gandhi’s visit included attending several meetings and launching the Congress’s ‘Sangathan Srujan Abhiyan’ (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign), aimed at bolstering the party’s grassroots presence ahead of the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

In a post on X, Congress leader KC Venugopal said, “After Gujarat, it is time for Madhya Pradesh! Under INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji and LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji’s leadership, we are embarking on the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan in MP today.”

“Rahul ji offered tributes to Former PM Indira Gandhi ji in Bhopal, and then we began our 1-day programme with the MP Political Affairs Committee at Indira Bhavan,” he added.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday asserted that Pakistan’s strategy of “bleeding India by a thousand cuts” was met with a bold new stance against cross-border terrorism through Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Speaking at Savitribai Phule Pune University, General Chauhan said that professional militaries prioritise long-term outcomes over temporary setbacks.

Addressing criticism for acknowledging unspecified combat jet losses during the operation’s initial phase, General Chauhan stated, “I was asked about losses, but I said outcomes and actions matter more than numbers.”

He added, “Discussing losses in detail is inappropriate. In war, maintaining morale despite setbacks is crucial, as outcomes define success.”

General Chauhan described war as a blend of politics and violence, noting that Operation Sindoor saw both unfold concurrently.

He referenced Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir’s inflammatory remarks against India and Hindus weeks before the Pahalgam attack, underscoring Pakistan’s intent to destabilise India.

Describing the attack as “profoundly cruel,” he stressed that Operation Sindoor aimed to end Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism and reject its use of terror and nuclear threats to hold India hostage.

Detailing India’s military response, General Chauhan revealed that the Indian armed forces executed precise strikes on Pakistani targets, some as narrow as two metres, demonstrating deliberate and effective action.

He explained that Pakistan planned a 48-hour counter-offensive but collapsed within eight hours, prompting a request for talks on 10 May 2025. “Pakistan realised continued operations would lead to greater losses, so they sought de-escalation,” he said, noting India’s acceptance of the request.

General Chauhan outlined India’s redefined approach, stating, “We’ve raised the bar, linking terrorism to broader strategic issues like water and establishing a new threshold for military operations against terror.”