The party appears poised to press the Modi government for accountability and transparency on critical issues of foreign policy and national security
NEW DELHI – In a fresh salvo against the Modi government, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on US President Donald Trump’s claim that he played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Ramesh was reacting to reports of an affidavit submitted by the Trump administration in a New York court, which asserted that the president’s intervention, using tariff threats, helped de-escalate tensions between the two countries.
Citing the affidavit, Ramesh, in a post on X on Thursday, accused the Modi government of remaining conspicuously silent on a matter of national interest. “President Trump has said eight times in 11 days in three countries — America, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — that this ceasefire happened because of him. He claims he used tariffs and told both countries that international trade would benefit if they agreed to a ceasefire,” Ramesh said.
“Our prime minister does not want to hear about tariffs; our prime minister only wants to hear ‘tareef’ (praise),” Ramesh said, alleging that Modi had failed to respond to Trump’s statements, thereby compromising the diplomatic posture of the country.
The senior Congress leader further questioned why the Modi government had not issued any clarification or rebuttal despite Trump’s claim of having put India and Pakistan “in the same boat.” “India’s economy has grown ten times in comparison to Pakistan, and yet we are being equated on the global stage. Why is the prime minister silent?” he asked.
Ramesh also took aim at Modi’s handling of relations with China, recalling the prime minister’s controversial June 19, 2020, statement in which he appeared to give a “clean chit” to Beijing following the deadly Galwan Valley clash. “The PM never breaks his silence — whether it’s on China or Trump. Instead, he’s taking credit for military operations, holding rallies, and delivering filmy dialogues. It’s all dialogue-baazi,” he said.
Amid growing concerns over regional security and China’s deepening ties with Pakistan, Ramesh reiterated the Congress party’s demand for a special session of parliament and an all-party meeting chaired by the prime minister. He emphasised that the purpose of such a session would be to pass a unanimous resolution on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and terrorism, echoing the resolution adopted on February 22, 1994.
“Both Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi wrote to the prime minister on May 10, requesting this session. We need a united message to the world, especially with both countries now being nuclear powers and China playing an increasingly assertive role in Pakistan,” Ramesh said.
He criticised previous meetings chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as mere “formalities,” claiming that no meaningful discussion had taken place and the government had failed to respond constructively to opposition concerns.
As the Trump affidavit fuels fresh debate over India’s diplomatic agency in a tense geopolitical environment, the Congress party appears poised to press the Modi government for accountability and transparency on critical issues of foreign policy and national security. His sharp punchline — “PM wants tareef, not talks on tariffs” — is likely to become a talking point in political and media circles.
