Trump's birthday parade: White House denies reports of invitation to Pakistan's Asim Munir; BJP asks Congress to apologise for 'fake news'
Nishikant Dubey
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday demanded an apology from the Congress for falsely claiming that Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, was invited to a US military parade hosted by President Donald Trump.
The White House had categorically denied the claim, calling it 'false.'
Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Congress of "falling into Pakistan's trap" and spreading misinformation. "For the last 2-3 days, the entire Congress party kept saying that Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir is going to the US. This was a trap by Pakistan," he said. 'Today, it is known that the White House or the US military never called Asim Munir.'
A White House official confirmed this, stating, 'This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited.'
Dubey targets Priyanka, recalls Congress's past on Israel, Palestine
Dubey used the controversy to attack the Congress party's broader foreign policy history, particularly over its handling of Israel and Palestine.
He criticised Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks on India abstaining from a UN vote on Gaza, calling it 'shameful,' and responded with a lengthy post on X. 'This is what happens when you haven't studied history,' he said, pointing to India's covert ties with Israel going back to Nehru's era, even as it officially supported Palestine at the UN.
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'In 1948, Nehruji supported Palestine... but in 1950, Nehruji secretly opened his trade office Mission in Mumbai... In 1971, Indira Gandhi used Israeli weapons... In 1992, the first Israeli embassy was opened in Delhi,' he told ANI.
He further alleged that after the 26/11 attacks, the Congress government under Manmohan Singh 'supported terrorism and Pakistan under global pressure.' Praising Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy, Dubey said India's global standing has improved significantly, especially with Arab nations like Saudi Arabia.
Trump's military spectacle draws crowds and criticism
The row emerged as President Donald Trump hosted the largest US military parade in decades on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army—coinciding with his 79th birthday.
Thousands of troops marched past the White House, with tanks rolling down Constitution Avenue and fighter jets flying overhead. The White House claimed that over 250,000 people attended the event, though no evidence was provided.
Trump, who once admired France's Bastille Day parade, declared, 'Time and again, America's enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you.'
While Trump's supporters celebrated, protests erupted in major cities under the banner 'No Kings,' with critics accusing the former president of authoritarianism. Tear gas was fired in Los Angeles, and a shooting at a protest in Salt Lake City left one person critically injured.
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