Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday emphasized India’s crucial support for Cyprus' independence during the 1950s under then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru—a contribution he doubts Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advisors are even aware of. His remarks came through a social media post, coinciding with PM Modi's ongoing visit to Cyprus.

Ramesh recalled India’s leadership at the Afro-Asian Bandung Conference, where Nehru had invited Archbishop Makarios III, the future President of Cyprus, making him the only European attendee. He also mentioned V.K. Krishna Menon’s impactful speech and resolution on Cyprus at the UN in 1957, which gained front-page coverage in The New York Times.

He noted Makarios’ two-week visit to India in 1962 and how Nehru’s death was marked with mourning in Cyprus. A road in Delhi was later named after Makarios. Ramesh further highlighted India's military contribution to Cyprus through leadership in the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) from 1964 to 1974.

He questioned whether the current government acknowledges this shared legacy, especially in light of PM Modi’s visit, which he linked to controversy surrounding Cyprus-based investments in the Adani Group. Ramesh pointed out that Cyprus was central to SEBI’s ongoing investigation involving offshore entities and shell companies allegedly tied to the group.

He also mentioned that India’s support for Cypriot independence once strained ties with Turkey, underscoring the historical and strategic significance of Indo-Cypriot relations. Modi’s visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus, is seen as a move to bolster ties with European nations ahead of the G7 Summit in Canada.