Following US President Donald Trump's recent remarks about the India-Pakistan conflict, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding clarity on the situation. Trump claimed that "five jets were shot down" during the conflict, which India has responded to through Operation Sindoor. Gandhi has questioned Modi's silence on the matter and asserted that the country has a right to know the truth.
The Congress party has been demanding that Modi address Trump's claims in Parliament, particularly during the upcoming Monsoon Session. They are seeking a "clear and categorical" statement from the Prime Minister regarding the events surrounding the conflict. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized Modi's "friendship and huglomacy" with Trump, referencing events like "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump," and insisted that Modi himself, not a "substitute batsman," should address Parliament on this issue.
Trump's statement, made at a private dinner with Republican lawmakers, included the claim that the U.S. had intervened to stop a potential war between India and Pakistan. He also stated that trade deals were contingent on a ceasefire agreement between the two nations. According to Trump, "We said, 'You guys want to make a trade deal? We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons and maybe nuclear weapons'". He also boasted about his administration's achievements in preventing wars.
However, India has maintained that the ceasefire with Pakistan was a result of direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, not due to external mediation. It has been reported that Modi made it clear to Trump during a phone call that India rejects mediation and that the military discussions were initiated by Pakistan.
The Congress's Manickam Tagore has also raised questions about the government's silence and has asked whether India caved in to foreign pressure. He questioned why the government was not issuing clarifications on the matter.
Adding to the controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra claimed that India had lost at least one Rafale jet during the conflict, and questioned the lack of a post-Operation Sindoor briefing.
The backdrop to these claims is the military conflict, referred to as Operation Sindoor, which India launched in May 2025 in response to a terror attack. Following a few days of cross-border strikes, both sides agreed to end hostilities. The Congress party's demand for a statement from Modi reflects a broader concern about the government's handling of the conflict and its potential impact on India's relationship with its neighbors.