At Barmer rally, Congress questions PM’s silence on Trump’s ceasefire claims

The Congress on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims about settling the India-Pakistan conflict through trade.

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Hitting out at Modi who said “Sindoor runs through my veins” at a recent rally in Bikaner, All-India Congress Committee general secretary Randeep Surjewala asked, “If sindoor runs through his veins, then how could the decision be made on the grounds of trade?”

Surjewala was speaking at Jai Hindi Sabha, a rally organised in Barmer in honour of the Indian defence forces that carried out Operation Sindoor earlier this month.

In the rally, Congress leaders raised concerns over the Modi government’s handling of national security, Army recruitment and foreign policy.

Surjewala claimed that while India’s defence forces were making significant progress during Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s morale was broken, the US intervened and brokered a ceasefire. This was detrimental to India’s interests, he said.

“Why hasn’t the Prime Minister spoken against the US or clarified its role in the situation?” he asked.

Stating that Indira Gandhi had shown the strength to confront US President Richard Nixon during the 1971 war, Surjewala asked why Modi has not done the same against Trump.

He also questioned the government’s handling of intelligence.

Before the April 22 terror attack, satellite pictures of the ground in Pahalgam were taken and sold to a company holding Pakistan’s shares, Surjewala said, asking why the Indian intelligence agencies and government were unaware of this and did not take steps to prevent the potential threat.

“Could the Pahalgam attack have been prevented? If Home Minister Amit Shah had ensured security, perhaps this entire matter could have been avoided. Modi and BJP want Congress and Rahul Gandhi not to ask these questions. This question will have to be asked: what was the mistake that led to the Pahalgam attack? Who is responsible for this? If the government has made a mistake and if the question is not to be asked to the Prime Minister, then who should it be asked?” Surjewala questioned.

He said asking questions is a national duty and is in the nation’s interest.

“When Pakistan was sending terrorists and our army was fighting, how did Pakistan get money from the International Monetary Fund? They will take the money and use it against us. What is our government doing? Should our Prime Minister not take action?” he asked.

The AICC general secretary said the questions are being asked in the interest of the defence forces and to strengthen them.

He said over 2 lakh vacancies are unfilled in the armed forces and there is a shortage of 50,000 officers, with no clear explanation as to why these critical positions remain vacant.

The former Congress government had established the Mountain Strike Force but there has been no recruitment for over a decade, he said, adding that the Indian Air Force was also facing a shortage of planes and squadrons.

Surjewala said that during the all-party meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah had stated that the government was unaware of the ground in Pahalgam being opened for tourists, whereas the military officers and local administration have said that it remains open.

He said the home minister should clarify if he had lied in the all-party meeting.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also accused Modi of not speaking on the role of the US in the ceasefire. Raising questions about the US President’s involvement in ceasefire, he asked, “Who is America to mediate?”     Gehlot expressed serious concerns over the sudden ceasefire with Pakistan. “Why was a ceasefire declared so abruptly? If talks were ongoing, the country should have been informed,” he said.

In a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gehlot questioned its patriotism and said the RSS headquarters did not hoist the national flag for 80 years.

He also criticised BJP MLA Balmukundacharya for allegedly wiping his face with the national flag during a rally in Jaipur, claiming that he had no understanding of the tricolour’s honour.

Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra accused the Prime Minister of hiding behind the army’s valour for political gains and demanded answers on why the ceasefire was initiated.

“Modi has a habit of hiding behind the army’s bravery for political interests,” he said.

Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said that the entire country has faith in the armed forces. He questioned the government’s lack of transparency regarding the ceasefire, asking, “How and on what terms was the ceasefire agreed upon?”

Criticising the lack of international condemnation for Pakistan, Pilot reiterated demand for a special parliamentary session.

He also condemned the derogatory remarks made by Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah against Col. Sophia Qureshi, demanding the minister’s resignation and an apology from the BJP leadership.

Rajasthan party in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa criticised the Prime Minister for allegedly halting border development works and questioned the government’s commitment to strengthening the armed forces.

He also asserted that Congress leaders, unlike the BJP, truly understand the meaning of sacrifice for the nation.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully claimed the government was unwilling to act against terrorism and had tied the hands of the Army.