Trump’s Ceasefire Claims Stir Storm in Indian Politics; Congress Targets PM Modi’s Silence Amid Escalating Tensions
The political pot continues to boil in India as repeated and unverified claims by U.S. President Donald Trump—regarding his alleged role in halting a near-war scenario between India and Pakistan—have handed fresh ammunition to the Opposition, particularly the Congress party, which has intensified its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Each morning, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has made it a routine to post sharp remarks on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, often targeting the government over key issues ranging from national security to institutional integrity. On Wednesday, Ramesh turned his attention yet again to Trump’s latest controversial assertion and the Modi government’s continued silence in its wake.
Speaking at a White House reception for U.S. Congress members on Tuesday, Trump claimed—once more—that his intervention had stopped a full-scale conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.
“They shot down five planes… back and forth, back and forth,” Trump said, dramatically recounting his version of events. “I called them and said, ‘Listen, no more trade. If you do this, you’re not going to be good.’ They’re both powerful nuclear nations… and I stopped it.”
This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. Congress asserts that this is the 25th time in 73 days that Trump has publicly claimed credit for diffusing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Jairam Ramesh quipped, “As the Modi Government continues to evade giving a clear schedule for a debate on the Pahalgam-Sindoor issue in Parliament, and as it resists committing to a direct reply by the Prime Minister, Trump has now hit the silver jubilee mark on his ceasefire claims.”
Opposition Questions Government Silence
For the Congress and the wider Opposition, these recurring Trump statements offer a potent political opportunity. They have seized on the claims as emblematic of what they describe as Modi’s chronic evasion of accountability—particularly on sensitive matters such as terrorism, foreign policy, and national security.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, recently raised the matter in Parliament, questioning the government about Trump’s “five jets shot down” statement. “What is the truth?” he asked, placing the onus on the Prime Minister to clarify.
Official Denial but No PM Response
The Indian government has firmly denied any third-party involvement or mediation during India’s tense standoff with Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, speaking from the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, issued a rare video clarification, dismissing Trump’s narrative. “At no point during the 35-minute phone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump was any trade-off or mediation discussed,” Misri said.
“India does not and will never accept mediation,” he added, stressing that any ceasefire or de-escalation occurred through direct military-to-military communication between India and Pakistan.
Despite this categorical rejection, the absence of a public denial or clarification from Prime Minister Modi himself has left an opening for the Opposition to press its case further. With each new Trump remark, the political pressure on the Modi government builds—especially at a time when public trust in transparency and democratic discourse is under scrutiny.
War of Narratives Escalates
Critics argue that the Modi government’s reluctance to confront Trump’s repeated, unsubstantiated claims could signal a lack of transparency or a diplomatic vulnerability. On the other hand, BJP leaders have dismissed the controversy as manufactured outrage, accusing the Opposition of clutching at straws in a bid to remain politically relevant.
Still, Trump’s theatrical storytelling—whether factual or not—has emerged as a strategic talking point for the Congress, allowing it to paint the ruling government as aloof, dismissive, and detached from the expectations of a democratic public.
Until the Prime Minister addresses the issue directly, it appears the Opposition will continue to amplify the controversy, turning Donald Trump’s ceasefire fantasy into a political reality in India’s domestic discourse.
