Congress's fresh 'Narender surrender' salvo at PM features Trump's red MAGA cap
The Congress on Thursday doubled down on its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, intensifying the row triggered by Rahul Gandhi's 'Narender surrender' jibe. The fresh salvo came in the form of a social media post featuring US President Donald Trump's iconic red 'Make America Great Again' cap, emblazoned with the words 'Narender Surrender' - a pointed reference to Gandhi's allegation that PM Modi agreed to a ceasefire with Pakistan following a call from Trump.advertisementThe controversy erupted on Tuesday when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking at the launch of the party's Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan in Bhopal, claimed that the PM had succumbed to pressure from the United States. "Trump made one gesture from there (the US), picked up the call and said 'Modiji, what are you doing? Narender surrender'. And Modiji said 'yes sir' and followed Trump's instructions," Gandhi said.NarenderSurrender pic.twitter.com/TlwvChAA0S— Congress (@INCIndia) June 5, 2025Gandhi went on to accuse the BJP and RSS of lacking the courage to withstand pressure. "I know BJP-RSS people; if you put even a little pressure and give them just a slight push, they run away out of fear," he said, contrasting their conduct with that of previous Congress leaders. "You would remember when the phone call had not come, the seventh fleet came in 1971 war. Seventh fleet came, arms came, aircraft carriers came, but Indira Gandhi said 'I will do what I want'. This is the difference," he added.advertisement
Backing Gandhi's remarks, Congress leader Pawan Khera told reporters, "Don't assume that India is Narendra or Narendra is India. He makes grand speeches but ends up surrendering. Just days ago, they talked about China, and now, not even once is China uttered."The BJP hit back sharply at Gandhi's remarks. Party leader Pradip Bhandari said, "Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan's terror masters. From Salman Khurshid to Shashi Tharoor, every Congress leader is talking about this and Pakistan itself is giving evidence of this... The people of the country see this uncivilised Rahul Gandhi as an agent of Pakistan."Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the Congress as well, stating, "There is also a limit to stupidity and opposition! There's nobody in Congress Party to tell him that being in the Opposition Party does not mean, to oppose the nation?"BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya, in a post on X, wrote, "History will remember: From Doklam to Pahalgam, whenever India stood united to defend its sovereignty and rise as a global power, Rahul Gandhi, true to the legacy of his lineage, chose to stand with forces opposed to India's political and economic resurgence."advertisementMeanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who is currently leading an all-party delegation to the US, among other countries, as part of India's global outreach following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, struck a different tone. Responding to a question about Gandhi's comments, Tharoor said that India did not need persuasion to stop the conflict."India didn't need persuasion to stop. No one needed to tell us to stop because we were telling them the moment Pakistan stops, we are prepared to stop. So if they, in turn, told the Pakistani, You better stop because the Indians are willing to stop and that was what they did. And that's a wonderful gesture on their part," he said.Tharoor further stated, "We have no real difficulty speaking the same language as the Pakistanis, as long as they use the language of terrorism. We will use the language of force, and that doesn't require a third party."He added that he would not dwell on the details, emphasising India's "much more important strategic partnership" with the United States. "We have enormous respect for the US," he said.Tune InMust Watch
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