Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, accusing him of evading a parliamentary discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’ and failing to counter US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Gandhi’s remarks came as Modi embarked on a two-nation tour to the UK and Maldives, a move the Congress leader criticised as prioritising foreign trips over addressing pressing national security concerns.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House complex, Gandhi questioned Modi’s silence on Trump’s assertions that he facilitated a ceasefire following India’s military operation against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “The whole world knows Trump announced the ceasefire. He’s said it 25 times in 73 days, but the Prime Minister hasn’t uttered a single word to clarify India’s position,” Gandhi said, taking a swipe at Modi’s inaction. “Those who call themselves patriots have run away to the UK and Maldives instead of facing Parliament.”
‘Operation Sindoor’, launched on May 7, 2025, was India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. The operation targeted terror camps, resulting in significant casualties among terrorist groups, but escalated tensions with Pakistan, which retaliated with drone attacks and shelling. A ceasefire was announced on May 10, with India maintaining that it was reached through direct military talks initiated by Pakistan. However, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit, asserting his trade negotiations prevented a nuclear escalation, a narrative India has consistently rejected.
Gandhi mocked Modi’s reluctance to address Trump’s claims, saying, “What will the Prime Minister say? That Trump got the ceasefire done? He can’t admit the truth, but the world knows it.” He further criticized the government’s foreign policy, alleging that no country supported India post-Operation Sindoor, pointing to a perceived diplomatic failure. “They’ve destroyed our foreign policy. No one backed us, and now the Prime Minister is off signing trade deals instead of answering the nation,” he added.
The Congress party has been pressing for a special parliamentary session to discuss the Pahalgam attack, ‘Operation Sindoor’, and the ceasefire, with Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge writing to Modi on May 11 to demand the same. The ongoing Monsoon Session, which began on July 21, has seen disruptions as the opposition insists on Modi’s direct response. “We want to discuss defence, the issues with defence industry, and the lapses that led to Pahalgam. But the government is dodging accountability,” Gandhi said, hinting at deeper concerns about national security.
Gandhi also referenced Trump’s claim that “five jets were shot down” during the conflict, demanding clarity. “Modi ji, what is the truth about these jets? The nation deserves to know,” he said, echoing his earlier post on X. The Congress leader’s remarks have intensified the political storm, with the opposition accusing Modi of undermining India’s sovereignty by not rebutting Trump’s narrative.
As Modi attends the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and participates in Maldives’ 60th National Day celebrations, the opposition’s call for transparency grows louder. The government has agreed to a 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha next week, but the opposition remains firm that Modi himself must address Parliament. With tensions simmering, Gandhi’s sharp critique underscores the deepening divide between the ruling BJP and the opposition over India’s handling of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and its global implications.
