Rahul lashes out at Modi government for failed global strategy

After Iran announced that it will be funding the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project on its own rather than wait for India, Rahul Gandhi said India is losing power and respect everywhere.

1. Iran cancelled the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project with India

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Centre saying India’s global strategy is in tatters.

Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said, “India’s global strategy is in tatters. We are losing power and respect everywhere and GOI has no idea what to do.”

2. Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the government for weakening global ties

Earlier, Iran's first Vice President Es'hagh Jahangiri in a statement had said that the country agreed with withdrawing USD 300 million from the National Development Fund and decided to go solo with the strategically crucial project.

3. Iran decided to go solo with the crucial project

Iran has clarified that India is not part of the project as there is lack of clarity whether it will invite US sanctions, the communication from.the government was not clear on the deal

4. Iran said that there is no clarity whether India will invite US sanctions

The project was supposed to be a joint railway project between Iran and the state-owned Indian Railways Construction Ltd (IRCON) after IRCON signed an MoU with the Iranian rail ministry in 2016.

5. The project was supposed to be a joint railway project between Iran and IRCON

The Chabahar-Zahedan railway was part of transit and transportation corridor in a trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan with IRCON ensuring all services and finance for the project.

6. IRCON had to ensure all services and finance for the project

Iran dropping India from Chabahar rail project is a jolt to the global opportunity for India.

Chabahar Port strengthened India-Iran relations but the cancellation of the project reflects the changing relationship between the two countries

7. Chabahar rail project cancellation for India is a jolt to global opportunity

Iran is in a hurry to finish the railway project before the elections next year and started work on the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project last week.

8. Iran has already started work on the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project afyer dropping  India

As of now, India is not part of the project as there is lack of clarity whether it will invite US sanctions.

According to Iranian news agency IRNA report, the project, once completed will connect Chabahar with Zahedan and Iran plans to finish the project by the end of March 2022.

9. Iran plans to finish the project by the end of March 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Iran in May 2016, had signed the Chabahar agreement with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

10. PM Narendra Modi had signed the agreement in 2016

Due to the US sanctions, it was getting difficult for IRCON to find equipment suppliers and partners.

India has already cut its dependence on Iranian oil imports due to the US sanctions

11. IRCON could not find equipment suppliers and partners

Rahul Gandhi has been pointing out at the failed global strategy by the government and the recent dropout deal shows how India is losing onto the global partners due to failed diplomatic strategy

12. Rahul Gandhi has been pointing out at the failed diplomatic strategy of the government.