Rahul Gandhi Questions PM Modi's Silence on Trump's Ceasefire Mediation Claims
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Gandhi suggested that Modi's silence on the matter stems from strategic constraints rather than diplomatic courtesy. The Congress leader argued that the Prime Minister cannot openly contradict Trump without risking potential revelations that could expose uncomfortable truths about the bilateral relationship.
Gandhi explicitly connected Trump's persistent statements to ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and India. He characterized the American President's remarks as leveraging tactics designed to secure favorable terms in upcoming commercial discussions. The Congress leader predicted that continued pressure would ultimately result in a trade agreement that might compromise India's interests.
The controversy centers on Trump's repeated assertions that Washington facilitated a "full and immediate" ceasefire between India and Pakistan through American diplomatic intervention. The US President has reiterated these claims approximately thirty times since the May 10 truce agreement, according to Congress estimates.
India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding emerged through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries, explicitly rejecting any foreign mediation role. This official position contradicts Trump's public narrative about American involvement in the peace process.
During Tuesday's parliamentary session, Gandhi challenged Modi to demonstrate courage comparable to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by openly declaring Trump's statements false. The Congress leader specifically dared Modi to state in Parliament that "Donald Trump is lying" about the mediation claims.
In his subsequent parliamentary response, Modi asserted that no international leader had requested India to halt its military operations, though he notably avoided mentioning Trump by name. This omission has become a focal point for Opposition criticism.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera employed vivid imagery to characterize the relationship dynamics, suggesting Trump maintains controlling influence over Modi's diplomatic responses. The party has accused the Prime Minister of being in a compromised position with significant information to conceal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
US Keeps High Tariff on India While Cutting Rates for Bangladesh, Pakistan
As the 1 August deadline loomed, US President Donald Trump has announced that Donald Trump India tariff would be placed on a number of countries. While the Trump administration has kept the rate on India at 25%, it is not clear how Trump will implement the extra sanctions he previously stated he would place on India due to its transactions with Russia. Pakistan confirmed the deal with the US on Thursday, with Bangladesh seeing its rate dropped to 20% from 35% as Trump slashes tariffs on Bangladesh by 19%. The South Asian nation has also seen its reciprocal 29% tariff lifted since April. Pakistan is also in line to benefit from the announcement. The White House said the changes would be placed on 'goods brought into the country for consumption, or withdrawn from the warehouse for consumption, beginning at 12: 01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time seven days after the date of this order.' White House officials told CNBC-TV18 exclusively that this should not be treated as an extension but just more time for the customs department to prepare their systems accordingly to collect the Trump tariffs on Pakistan. In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said India has a US trade policy with India due to concerns of how closely it aligns with China. The United States has given tariff notifications of 20% on Taiwan, 19% on Cambodia, 19% on Thailand, 30% on South Africa and 15% on Turkey. The current tariff on Israel and South Korea is 15% and the levy on Switzerland is 39%. That dragged down the Swiss Franc (CHF) against the US Dollar (USD). As for its decision to recognise Palestine as an independent state, Canada moved to a higher tariff of 25% to 35%. In total, imports from roughly 40 countries are expected to face the new 15% tariff, while goods from roughly a dozen economies will see even steeper duties as the US, in a unilateral move, as part of Trump trade war 2025, informed the nations of new US import duties India.
Indian Express
a minute ago
- Indian Express
India cannot remain ‘mute spectator' as institutions like WTO are destroyed: Congress
The Congress on Friday asserted that India has the highest stakes in institutions such as the WTO and WHO which are being 'destroyed' and 'gutted' by US President Donald Trump, and cannot remain a mute spectator while being content with coining slogans and acronyms. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the World Trade Organisation (WTO) had been dealt very heavy blows during Trump-I. 'It has been destroyed during Trump-II. The rules-based, multilateral trading system put in place with the US itself playing a leadership role has been finished off,' Ramesh claimed. The US's approach now is to negotiate–if at all–bilaterally but finally decide unilaterally, the Congress leader said in a post on X. President Trump has also gutted the WHO and withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and UNESCO, Ramesh said. 'India has the highest stakes in such international accords and institutions. It cannot remain a mute spectator and be content with coining slogans and acronyms,' Ramesh said. His remarks came after President Trump issued an executive order listing the various duties that Washington will impose on exports from countries around the world. India will face tariffs of 25 per cent on its exports to the US. The executive order, however, does not mention the penalty that Trump had said India will have to pay because of its purchases of Russian military equipment and energy. On Wednesday, Trump, through a post on his social media website Truth Social, announced the 25 per cent tariff on India and an additional penalty for New Delhi's purchases from Russia. While August 1 was the tariff deadline, the new levies will come into effect from August 7. In April, Trump had announced that India will face a 26 per cent discounted reciprocal tariff, a per cent higher than the rate announced now. In its reaction to the US' tariff announcement, India has said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the tariffs are being examined.
India.com
a minute ago
- India.com
Tensions in India-US ties, Marco Rubio says India buying Russian oil not the only point of irritation
India buying Russian oil not the only point of irritation, says Marco Rubio Further escalating the tensions between India-US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India's purchases of Russian oil are helping to sustain Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine and it is 'most certainly a point of irritation' in New Delhi's relationship with Washington, although not the only point of irritation. 'India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap. In many cases, they're selling it under the global price because of the sanctions,' said Rubio. 'Unfortunately, that is helping to sustain the Russian war effort. So it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India – not the only point of irritation. We also have many other points of cooperation with them,' the US Secretary of State added. Why White House announced 25% tariff on India? India will face tariffs of 25 per cent on its exports to the US as President Donald Trump issued an executive order listing the various duties that Washington will impose on exports from countries around the world. In the Executive Order titled 'Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates', Trump announced tariff rates for nearly 70 nations. A 25 per cent 'Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted' has been imposed on India, according to the list released. The executive order however does not mention the 'penalty' that Trump had said India will have to pay because of its purchases of Russian military equipment and energy.
