Congress Criticizes Modi Government Over Passport Rankings, Tourism, and Foreign Policy
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government for India's declining global passport rankings, citing a drop from 74th in 2013 to 80th in 2026 in one index and a 125th position in another. He highlighted increased passport fees and questioned the quality of services. Kharge also noted that foreign tourist arrivals remain below pre-pandemic levels and described visa services as outdated. Additionally, Congress leaders criticized the government's silence on the Gaza conflict, linking it to concerns over India's global image.
First-hand measurement across 3 sources
We measured how 3 outlets covered this story. Coverage leans left-leaning overall (Left 74%, Centre 21%, Right 5%). Overall sentiment is negative (26/100). Lens Score 35/100 — moderate-to-low public interest.
Outlets analysed (first-hand measurement by TBN's Bias Engine):
- thestatesman— left-leaning framing, negative sentiment
- thetelegraph— left-leaning framing, negative sentiment
- thetribune— left-leaning framing, negative sentiment
AI Analysis
The article group predominantly features the Congress party's critical perspective on the Modi government's handling of passport services, tourism recovery, and foreign policy. The sources present Congress leaders' statements challenging government claims of enhanced global respect, while also including specific data and policy critiques. The coverage reflects opposition viewpoints without direct government responses, focusing on political accountability and international reputation.
The overall tone across the articles is critical, emphasizing perceived declines in India's global passport rankings, increased fees, and lagging tourism recovery. The sentiment is largely negative toward the government's performance, with additional disapproval expressed regarding the administration's response to international issues like the Gaza conflict. There is little positive or neutral sentiment, reflecting a focus on shortcomings and challenges.