'Daal mein kuch kala hai': Rahul attacks PM as Trump repeats India-Pak ceasefire claim '25 times'
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over US President Donald Trump repeating his claims about bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying there is something fishy as the American leader has made the statement "25 times".
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha questioned as to who is Trump to get a ceasefire done and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not given a reply even once.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also hit out at the government after Trump repeated his claim.
"Trump keeps saying that he facilitated a ceasefire, but Narendra Modi is silent, not responding. Does Narendra Modi want to be subservient to Trump? The country is the most important, which is why we supported the government," Kharge told reporters here.
"In such a situation, when Trump repeatedly states that he brought about the ceasefire and insults India, the prime minister should respond firmly. This, in some way, shows weakness," he said.
Asked about Trump's claim and if the PM should make a statement as being demanded by the opposition, Gandhi said, "How can the prime minister make a statement. What will he say-- Trump got it done, he can't say that. But that is the truth. Trump got the ceasefire done, the whole world knows. That is the reality."
"This is not just about ceasefire there are big problems that we want to discuss. There are problems related to defence, defence industry, Operation Sindoor. The situation is not good and the whole world knows. Those who call themselves patriot have run away. The prime minister is not able to give one statement," Gandhi told reporters in Parliament House complex.
"Trump has said 25 times that 'I got the ceasefire done'. Who is Trump to get a ceasefire done? It is not his job. But the prime minister has not given a reply even once. That is the truth, he cannot hide," Gandhi said.
He said the government has accepted to have a discussion on Operation Sindoor when Prime Minister Modi returns from abroad.
"On the one hand you (government) say Operation Sindoor is ongoing and on the other hand you say that victory has been achieved. Either victory has been achieved or (Operation) Sindoor is ongoing. Trump is saying I halted Sindoor, he has said it 25 times. So, 'kuch na kuch toh daal mein kala hai na' (something is fishy)," Gandhi said.
To a question on India's outreach post Operation Sindoor, Gandhi said, "They (government) have destroyed our foreign policy, no one supported us."
The Congress on Wednesday said that while US President Trump has reached the quarter century mark on his claims, Prime Minister Modi is "totally quiet, finding time only to travel abroad and to destabilise democratic institutions at home".
Trump on Tuesday claimed yet again that he stopped the recent "war" between India and Pakistan and that five planes were shot down in the conflict.
He also claimed that the conflict between India and Pakistan "was probably going to end up in a nuclear war".
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "As the Modi Government continues in its refusal to give firm dates for a debate on Pahalgam-Sindoor in Parliament and as the Modi government persists in its refusal to commit to a reply by the PM in the debate, President Trump reaches the silver jubilee, the quarter century mark on his claims."
"He has trumpeted 25 times in the last 73 days but the Prime Minister of India is totally quiet - finding time only to travel abroad and to destabilise democratic institutions at home," Ramesh said in X.
Speaking at a reception in the White House, Trump said, "We stopped wars between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda."
"They shot down five planes and it was back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. 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 that would have happened, and who knows where that would have ended up. And I stopped it'," he said.
Trump, who has repeatedly said that he stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan through trade, last Friday said for the first time that five jets were shot down during the fighting.
"You had India, Pakistan, that was going in fact, planes were being shot out of the air, five, five, four or five. But I think five jets were shot down actually, that was getting worse and worse, wasn't it? That was looking like it was going to go, these are two serious nuclear countries and they were hitting each other," he had said at the White House in his remarks made during a dinner that he hosted for the Republican senators.
Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a long night of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions that he helped settle the tensions between India and Pakistan.
However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.
In a nearly 35-minute phone call with Trump last month, Modi firmly stated that India does not and will "never accept" mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions were initiated at Islamabad's request.
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Bengal elections: Bhangar tense during polling, ISF claims voters, agents threatened
Kolkata (PTI): Tension gripped South 24 Parganas' Bhangar and its adjoining areas during the second phase of polling in West Bengal on Wednesday, with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) accusing TMC of trying to intimidate polling agents and influence voters.
NIA officials have been deployed in at least seven Assembly seats of West Bengal, where the second phase of polling is underway on Wednesday, after the Election Commission asked the federal probe agency to ensure bombs are not used to disrupt polling.
On April 26, police recovered crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, in Bhangar. Later, on a directive by the Union Home Ministry, the NIA registered a case to probe the recovery of 79 crude bombs in the state.
Trouble was reported from several pockets of Bhangar and Canning Purba constituency since morning, prompting heavy deployment of central forces, state police and NIA teams in sensitive areas.
At Hedia in Canning Purba constituency, the ISF alleged that one of its polling agents received death threats from TMC supporters.
ISF candidate Arabul Islam rushed to the spot after receiving the complaint and accused the administration of failing to ensure a fair election.
"Votes are being looted in Canning Purba. Our agents in booths are being driven out of several booths after snatching their cards and documents," he alleged.
Since morning, Islam was seen visiting booths and asking security personnel to clear gatherings within 100 metres of polling stations, while also assisting ISF polling agents in entering booths.
ISF chairman and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui also alleged that party workers and agents were being intimidated by ruling party supporters, but claimed that the overall atmosphere in Bhangar was comparatively peaceful compared to previous elections.
The fresh allegations and tension came a day after several areas of Bhangar, including Kochpukur and Joypur under Bhangar-II block, witnessed clashes between TMC and ISF supporters.
ISF supporters alleged that workers of the ruling party roamed through neighbourhoods on Tuesday night and threatened locals. When ISF workers protested, clashes broke out, leaving at least four of their compatriots, including a woman, injured.
Later, Siddiqui said, "The people of Bhangar are finally exercising their democratic rights. Earlier, bombs, bullets and pistols decided elections here. This time, people are choosing ballots and voting with a smile."
He alleged that "political dealers" and local goons loyal to TMC leader and Bhangar candidate Saukat Molla were trying to provoke ISF workers and create tension in certain areas.
"Agents are being threatened and prevented from functioning freely. We repeatedly informed the administration, but police are acting in favour of the ruling party and not cooperating," Siddiqui alleged.
Later in the day, the ISF leader also claimed that voters were prevented from exercising their franchise freely during the 2023 panchayat polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the situation has improved this time, he said.
The TMC denied the allegations and accused the ISF of trying to create unrest in the constituency to influence polling.
Security was significantly tightened in Bhangar, where, apart from state police and central forces, a special team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was also deployed to monitor sensitive pockets.
