New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi became a trending topic on social media platform 'X' following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, which was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceasefire, mediated by the United States, drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress party, which accused the central government of "succumbing" to foreign pressure.

The Congress and its leaders took to 'X' to draw parallels between the current situation and the 1971 India-Pakistan war under Indira Gandhi’s leadership. The official handles of the Congress and Kerala Congress posted images of the former prime minister with captions praising her courage and strength. "Indira Gandhi. COURAGE | CONVICTION | STRENGTH," read a post from the Congress’s main handle, while party leader Supriya Shrinate added, “It is not easy to be Indira Gandhi.”

Kerala Congress official 'X' handle also shared a post of former PM Indira Gandhi addressing media in the US, where she is heard saying, " It is not the task of any one country to say to another what they should do, even if it is a question of helping."

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called for an all-party meeting and a special Parliament session to discuss recent developments, including the terror attacks in Pahalgam and the path ahead. He also posted a letter written by Indira Gandhi to then U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971, asserting that there was no "neutral site" in her time as there is now. “She ensured that there was no ‘neutral site’ which has now been agreed to,” he wrote.

Congress MP Manish Tewari remarked that the U.S. was openly highlighting its mediation role, calling it “third party mediation.” He noted that the agreement involved not just a ceasefire but also talks at a neutral venue, which he said was being portrayed as diplomatic intervention.

Former Youth Congress president Srinivas B.V. criticized the current regime for yielding to external pressure, contrasting it with Indira Gandhi’s defiance in 1971 despite U.S. threats. “Indira Gandhi neither stopped nor bowed down, nor got scared,” he wrote, recalling her role in the creation of Bangladesh.

The Left also expressed concerns over American involvement. CPIML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya questioned why India under Prime Minister Modi had to rely on “a long night of American mediation” for a ceasefire. He urged both countries to de-escalate and restore diplomatic relations while bringing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice.

The Congress further posted excerpts from Indira Gandhi’s 1971 letter to Nixon: “We have our backbones straight, enough will & resources to fight all atrocities... That was courage, that was standing up for India, that was not compromising with the nation’s pride.”

Another X user, @srivatsayb, tweeted, “Today every Indian will understand.”

"But the fact remains: there has only been one #IndiraGandhi. India’s MOST powerful Prime Minister," wrote TMC MP, Sagarika Ghose.

Another user, @CheKrishnaCk, wrote, “Everyone cannot be Indira Gandhi.”

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.