Congress Rebukes BJP: “Modi is Not India, and India is Not Modi” Amid Row Over ‘Narender-Surrender’ Jibe
The Congress party on Wednesday mounted a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, asserting that it is a grave mistake to equate Modi with the nation itself.
This came in response to the BJP’s criticism of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s “Narender-surrender” remark, which the party said reflects the Prime Minister’s pattern of yielding India’s national interests under pressure.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, party media and publicity department head Pawan Khera defended Gandhi’s comments.
He said the phrase “Narender…surrender” symbolises how PM Modi has repeatedly backed down on critical matters of national interest, particularly in dealing with global powers and neighboring countries.
“For 11 years, the BJP crafted a biopic called Muqaddar Ka Sikandar for their leader. But when the final cut came out, it turned out to be Narender Ka Surrender,” Khera remarked, adding, “Bravery cannot be manufactured with speeches or PR; it is an intrinsic quality.
The history of BJP and the RSS is one of repeated cowardice.”
Khera accused the Modi government of diplomatic and strategic failures, citing India’s deteriorating relations with Nepal, which he claimed has been pushed closer to China under Modi’s tenure.
“Ten years ago, Nepal stood firmly with India. Today, anti-India sentiments are growing, and Chinese influence is rising in Kathmandu. If this isn’t surrender, then what is?” he asked.
The Congress leader further criticized Modi’s inability to prevent Pakistan from securing financial aid from global institutions.
“The same Asian Development Bank chief who met PM Modi on June 1 gave Pakistan a loan of $800 million just two days later. Modi couldn’t even block the IMF support to Pakistan,” Khera said.
Congress Slams Government’s Stance on China, Northeast, and Ceasefire
Khera also highlighted what he called the Modi government’s unwillingness to confront China. He accused the government of “issuing clean chits” to Beijing despite tensions at the border and alleged insensitivity towards the people of the Northeast by mocking their physical appearance.
“Statements mocking Lord Ganesha’s eyes being ‘too small’ were made, insulting not just religion but also the people of the Northeast. And yet, PM Modi hasn’t implemented a clear policy to reduce our dependency on Chinese goods,” he charged.
Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks and BJP’s Backlash
The controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi, during a rally in Bhopal, took a jibe at Modi, saying the Prime Minister surrendered to US pressure after a phone call from Donald Trump during cross-border tensions. Referring to the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Gandhi contrasted Modi’s reaction with that of Indira Gandhi, who had stood firm despite US military threats.
“Back then, the US sent the Seventh Fleet into the Bay of Bengal. Yet, Indira Gandhi didn’t surrender. But today, one phone call from Trump and it’s ‘Narender, surrender’. That’s the difference,” Gandhi said.
In response, BJP leaders accused Gandhi of belittling the Indian armed forces and undermining the success of Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military action against terror camps across the LoC.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to social media to call Gandhi a “Global Blunder” and mockingly referred to him as “Pakistan ka Boy Wonder.”
Another party spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi, claimed that Gandhi’s rhetoric had gone beyond that of even Pakistani leaders, suggesting it bordered on support for Islamabad.
Congress Fires Back: “Why Doesn’t Modi Respond to Trump?”
Refuting the BJP’s allegations, Khera turned the spotlight back on Modi. He cited former US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims—eleven in just 21 days—that his administration had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
“When our brave soldiers had Pakistan cornered, Trump claims Modi backed off under US trade pressure. Why hasn’t the Prime Minister denied Trump’s statements even once?” Khera questioned.
“Modi won’t respond because it’s true: the name is Narender, and the job is surrender.”
He accused the BJP of undermining India’s own diplomatic legacy by allowing the US to treat India and Pakistan as equals, violating the Shimla Agreement, and even entertaining talks at a so-called “neutral venue.”
Khera mocked Modi’s public persona, saying the PM seems more trained in theatrics than statecraft.
“He’s been tutored in dramatic dialogue delivery by Paresh Rawal. That might work in cinema, but it doesn’t cut it in geopolitics,” he quipped.
Summing up his rebuke, Khera warned against the dangerous notion of conflating a political leader with the country itself.
“Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He is not India. Equating the two is misleading and undemocratic. The BJP may idolize him, but India is bigger than any individual,” Khera concluded.
This fierce exchange of words between the two national parties marks yet another chapter in the escalating political war of narratives surrounding Operation Sindoor, foreign policy decisions, and the role of global powers in South Asian geopolitics.
