The Congress party has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of deliberately refusing to unequivocally deny former US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Citing over 30 such statements by Trump across various countries, the Congress alleged that Modi is “on a very weak wicket” and has “much to cover up.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the prime minister’s silence, stating, “He doesn’t even have the guts to call Trump a liar. In his two-hour-long speech in Parliament, he didn’t mention Trump even once. It seems there’s something fishy.” Kharge reiterated India’s long-standing policy against third-party mediation in Indo-Pak affairs and demanded that the government clarify why Trump’s version has gone unchallenged.
On Tuesday, Trump once again claimed — while speaking aboard Air Force One — that he played a key role in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan. Sharing a video of Trump’s comments, Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh said, “Why is the PM still refusing to categorically deny what Trump has said now 30 times? It’s because he has something to hide.”
Congress media department head Pawan Khera drew a sharp analogy, saying, “Trump is coiled around Modi like a snake, hissing bitter truths. Rahul Gandhi gave Modi a perfect opportunity to wriggle out—just say Trump is lying. But Modi’s refusal speaks volumes.”
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi dared Modi to state plainly in Parliament that “Donald Trump is lying.” Modi, however, refrained from addressing Trump’s remarks directly. He only said no foreign leader had asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, and blamed the Congress for failing to back Indian soldiers during the crisis.
Post-debate, Rahul Gandhi reiterated his point, saying, “Trump has claimed 29 times that he helped secure a ceasefire, and yet Narendra Modi didn’t once respond to it.”
Since May 10, when Trump declared on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire after mediation by the US, he has consistently repeated the claim. However, the Indian government maintains that the ceasefire was the result of direct discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two nations.
Last month, in a 35-minute phone call with Trump, Modi reportedly made it clear that India has never accepted and will never accept third-party mediation. The call came days after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India and Pakistan agreed to cease hostilities on May 10 following four days of cross-border strikes.
