The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned recent comments by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, calling them “irresponsible” and unbefitting of someone in high office. While not naming Mann directly, the ministry’s response came after the chief minister mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent international visits, questioning their significance and implying they were to obscure or unimportant nations.

During a public event on Thursday, Mann sarcastically referenced fictional-sounding countries, saying, “God knows which countries he has been visiting: ‘Magnesia’, ‘Galvesia’, ‘Tarvesia’. He is not staying in a country with 140 crore people.” He also made light of the prestigious foreign honours awarded to the Prime Minister, stating, “He is visiting countries with a population of 10,000 and receiving their highest civilian awards. In India, 10,000 people gather just to watch a JCB at work. What has he gotten himself into?”

The Prime Minister recently completed a five-nation tour from July 2 to 9, which included stops in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The visits were part of India’s diplomatic outreach to the Global South and included his participation in the BRICS summit in Brazil. Throughout the tour, Modi was conferred with multiple national honours, including the ‘Order of the Star of Ghana,’ the ‘Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,’ Brazil’s ‘Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross,’ Namibia’s ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis,’ and the Key to the City of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Reacting to the remarks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday evening, “We have seen some comments made by a high state authority about India’s relations with friendly countries from the Global South. These remarks are irresponsible and regrettable and do not behove the state authority.” He further clarified that the Government of India “dissociates itself from such unwarranted comments that undermine India’s ties with friendly countries.”

The statement underscores the Centre’s commitment to its diplomatic initiatives, particularly with emerging economies, and sends a clear message about the importance of maintaining decorum when addressing international relations.