Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, accusing him of staying silent while US President Donald Trump claimed for the 51st time that he halted India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. The Congress has been targeting the Modi government over Trump's claims of halting the India-Pakistan conflict in May this year.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a video link on X, questioned the prime minister's silence over Trump's claims. "This time - the 51st time that he has made this claim of having used tariffs to force India into the abrupt halt to Operation Sindoor."
Ramesh said the US president gave specific figures of tariffs he threatened to impose on India this time. "President Trump has given specific numbers on the tariff threats he reportedly made, and our PM continues to be silent while hailing him on his peace efforts in relation to Gaza," Ramesh added.
Before heading to the Middle East for the Gaza peace meet, the US president told presspersons that he used tariffs to halt the India-Pakistan conflict within "24 hours". Trump claimed he threatened to impose a 100 per cent to 200 per cent tariff on India and Pakistan if the nuclear nations continued the conflict.
India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan on May 7 to avenge the killings of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. India destroyed terror launchpads along the Line of Control. However, Pakistan retaliated and launched airstrikes targeting India's military assets along the LoC.
After days of military action, both India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing on May 10. While India has maintained that the ceasefire talks were bilateral, the US president has been claiming credit for stopping the war.
Also read
- ‘Modi can hold his own’: Decoding India's message to the world amid Vladimir Putin's state visit
- PM Modi breaks protocol to receive Russian President Putin; leaders travel in same car to Lok Kalyan Marg
- From rigged polls to farmer neglect: Congress lists failures of Maharashtra's one-year-old Mahayuti government
- Rahul Mamkootathil's fate was sealed the moment Congress got complaint: VD Satheeshan
Earlier on Monday, Modi welcomed US President Trump's "sincere efforts" to bring peace to the Middle East, by finalising the Gaza peace pact.
Hamas released the hostages as part of the first phase of President Trump's Gaza peace plan.
"We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu," he said.