Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not countering former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of ‘mediating’ the India-Pakistan war.
Kharge has blamed Modi for keeping quiet while Trump claimed many times that he ‘commanded’ both India and Pakistan to stop fighting. In Kharge’s words, “16 times Trump said this and Modi never had the guts to either refute or respond.”
“How much does Modi ji and BJP lie?” Kharge said in a gathering, accusing the Prime Minister of not confronting Trump because of his weak character.
In his address, he went on to say that in such an important juncture, not speaking was in fact choosing to remain silent showed Modi wished not to place India’s value on the globe and thus, disrespected the country.
Pahalgam incident and Modi’s surrender to Pakistan’s military and diplomatic strategy
The India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, which lasted for four nights, was triggered by the Pahalgam attack. Both countries witnessed a military confrontation a notch higher than they had ever experienced before, inclusive of cross border aerial bombardments as well as artillery crossfire.
Pakistan’s military was, however, able to strategically outmaneuver India in several key battles and gained tactical edges at the border. The success on the ground allowed Pakistan to emerge with a military victory, despite India’s superior resources.
Pakistan simultaneously achieved a critical diplomatic victory. While attention was focused on India, especially from the US, Pakistan managed to gain international backing from some important powers, including China.
In the backdrop of this support, Trump not only claimed he could mediate but repeatedly and unashamedly said he had personally helped both sides achieve several agreements in the past, including a ceasefire. On 16 different occasions, he claimed he told both sides to cease hostilities.
As much as one would think that intervention from the US was enough, Modi did not budge and chose to ignore any form of engagement with the President’s overtures. In Modi’s silence, many, including Kharge, see a blatant signal of his inability to defend India’s posture or take some daring moves in diplomacy.
Rahul was the first to criticize Modi, and now Kharge’s critique has been quickly echoed by other Congress leaders, all denouncing what appears to be a nonexistent policy on foreign relations
The opposition leader wondered how the head of government could remain quiet while US president was making such remarks, which for him exemplified nullifying sovereignty. “It’s not the first instance where this man has surrendered to the world. It is clear to us that he is the person leading this country into an abyss devoid of strong and competent governance,” added Gandhi.
These comments stirred up yet another round of controversy regarding Modi’s foreign policy and the way he dealt with the US under the Trump administration. The Congress party continues to poke holes in Modi’s strategy and approach to diplomacy, arguing that Modi exercised very little strength ensuring that India’s best interests were met and that Indian sovereignty was upheld.
The outcome from the military and diplomatic efforts during the conflict in May of 2025 with Pakistan now being the undisputed key beneficiary only accentuates the criticism from the Congress party, as it effectively calls Modi’s foreign policy and approach to national security into serious question.
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