NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s silence following fresh comments made by US President Donald Trump about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
This time, Trump went a step ahead and claimed that ‘five jets were shot down’ in the conflict.
Sharing a video of Trump’s remarks, Gandhi posted on X: “Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 jets? The nation has a right to know!”
Rahul’s post came as Trump, in what is now his 24th such claim, said at a private Republican dinner that he helped stop a war between India and Pakistan using trade threats. Trump claimed that “planes were being shot out of the air… five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down, actually.”
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram also criticised the government’s silence.
“After President Trump’s latest statement, what does the government of India have to say? Silence is no answer,” he wrote on X.
“I would like to believe the government of India, but if the government does not state the truth — does not say anything at all on the outcomes of the 5-day war — what do we believe?”, he added.
BJP's reaction
Responding sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s post, BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the Congress leader of echoing anti-India sentiments. In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “Rahul Gandhi’s mindset is that of a traitor.” He argued that Trump never explicitly mentioned India while speaking about the downing of five jets, and questioned why Gandhi assumed the aircraft belonged to India.
“Why not assume they were Pakistan’s? Does he have more sympathy for Pakistan than for his own country?” Malviya asked.
Taking a direct swipe, he added, “Whenever the country’s army teaches the enemy a lesson, Congress gets riled up. Anti-India sentiment is no longer just a habit for Congress; it’s become their identity.” Malviya ended his attack by questioning Gandhi’s allegiance: “Rahul Gandhi, tell us — are you Indian or Pakistan’s spokesperson?”
The Congress party earlier said PM Modi’s silence was a compromise of India’s national honour.
Also read: Congress slams PM Modi over Trump's 'jets shot down' claims
“Trump keeps repeating this, and PM Modi remains silent. Why is the nation’s honour being bartered for trade?” the party posted.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also weighed in and said that the PM must make a statement in Parliament. “Just two days before the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins, the Trump missile gets fired for the 24th time,” he said, highlighting Trump’s repeated claims that a potential nuclear conflict was stopped due to US pressure linked to trade talks.
Ramesh also referred to PM Modi’s past closeness with Trump, including events like ‘Howdy Modi’ in 2019 and ‘Namaste Trump’ in 2020. “The Prime Minister must respond himself in Parliament. No substitute batsman will do,” he added.
Trump has claimed multiple times that he used trade pressure to stop escalating tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking nine terror camps. Pakistan retaliated with drones and missiles, which were intercepted by Indian air defences.
India later targeted 11 Pakistani airbases in precision strikes.
Though Trump insists his trade warnings helped prevent further escalation, India maintains that the ceasefire came after Pakistan’s director general of military operations reached out to his Indian counterpart.
This time, Trump went a step ahead and claimed that ‘five jets were shot down’ in the conflict.
Sharing a video of Trump’s remarks, Gandhi posted on X: “Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 jets? The nation has a right to know!”
मोदी जी, 5 जहाज़ों का सच क्या है?
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 19, 2025
देश को जानने का हक है! pic.twitter.com/mQeaGCz4wp
Rahul’s post came as Trump, in what is now his 24th such claim, said at a private Republican dinner that he helped stop a war between India and Pakistan using trade threats. Trump claimed that “planes were being shot out of the air… five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down, actually.”
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram also criticised the government’s silence.
“After President Trump’s latest statement, what does the government of India have to say? Silence is no answer,” he wrote on X.
After President Trump's latest statement, what does the government of India have to say?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 19, 2025
Silence is no answer
I would like to believe the government of India, but if the government does not state the truth -- actually does not say anything at all on the outcomes of the 5-day…
“I would like to believe the government of India, but if the government does not state the truth — does not say anything at all on the outcomes of the 5-day war — what do we believe?”, he added.
BJP's reaction
Responding sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s post, BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the Congress leader of echoing anti-India sentiments. In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “Rahul Gandhi’s mindset is that of a traitor.” He argued that Trump never explicitly mentioned India while speaking about the downing of five jets, and questioned why Gandhi assumed the aircraft belonged to India.
“Why not assume they were Pakistan’s? Does he have more sympathy for Pakistan than for his own country?” Malviya asked.
राहुल गांधी की मानसिकता एक देशद्रोही की है।
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 19, 2025
ट्रंप ने अपने बयान में न तो भारत का नाम लिया, न ही यह कहा कि वे पाँच जहाज़ भारत के थे।
फिर कांग्रेस के युवराज ने उन्हें भारत के ही क्यों मान लिया? पाकिस्तान के क्यों नहीं माने?
क्या उन्हें अपने देश से ज़्यादा हमदर्दी पाकिस्तान से है?… https://t.co/73zeu06RGM
Taking a direct swipe, he added, “Whenever the country’s army teaches the enemy a lesson, Congress gets riled up. Anti-India sentiment is no longer just a habit for Congress; it’s become their identity.” Malviya ended his attack by questioning Gandhi’s allegiance: “Rahul Gandhi, tell us — are you Indian or Pakistan’s spokesperson?”
The Congress party earlier said PM Modi’s silence was a compromise of India’s national honour.
Also read: Congress slams PM Modi over Trump's 'jets shot down' claims
“Trump keeps repeating this, and PM Modi remains silent. Why is the nation’s honour being bartered for trade?” the party posted.
👉US President Trump says 5 jets were shot down in the India-Pakistan war.
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 19, 2025
👉For the 24th time, he claims to have stopped the India-Pakistan war through trade.
👉And yet, PM Modi remains silent.
❓ Why is the nation’s honour being bartered for trade? pic.twitter.com/RUSmpoLGpi
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also weighed in and said that the PM must make a statement in Parliament. “Just two days before the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins, the Trump missile gets fired for the 24th time,” he said, highlighting Trump’s repeated claims that a potential nuclear conflict was stopped due to US pressure linked to trade talks.
Ramesh also referred to PM Modi’s past closeness with Trump, including events like ‘Howdy Modi’ in 2019 and ‘Namaste Trump’ in 2020. “The Prime Minister must respond himself in Parliament. No substitute batsman will do,” he added.
Trump has claimed multiple times that he used trade pressure to stop escalating tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking nine terror camps. Pakistan retaliated with drones and missiles, which were intercepted by Indian air defences.
India later targeted 11 Pakistani airbases in precision strikes.
Though Trump insists his trade warnings helped prevent further escalation, India maintains that the ceasefire came after Pakistan’s director general of military operations reached out to his Indian counterpart.
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