Copyright thehindu
The Congress on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over U.S. President Donald Trump repeating his claim that he stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan using trade, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying that the Prime Minister was “scared” of Mr. Trump . Mr. Gandhi, addressing his first election rally in Bihar’s Darbhanga, said Mr. Modi must find the courage to respond and when he comes to Bihar next, he should state that Mr. Trump was lying. He said the U.S. President had claimed 50 times that he stopped Operation Sindoor by threatening the Prime Minister, who “hasn’t uttered a word”. Mr. Gandhi said those who lacked the courage could not develop Bihar. “Mr. Trump is insulting him [Mr. Modi] daily in different countries. He says Mr. Modi has no guts and he has made him bow before him. Mr. Modi never once said Mr. Trump is speaking nonsense and lying,” the Opposition leader said, adding, “One who cannot tell the American President on his face that “you are lying’, he could not do anything in Bihar”. In a post on X later, Mr. Gandhi said, “Mr. Trump is insulting Mr. Modi in country after country. Latest is South Korea. 1. Repeated that he used trade to frighten Mr. Modi into stopping Operation Sindoor. 2. Said 7 planes were shot down. Don’t be scared Modi ji, find the courage to respond”. On his X handle, Congress general secretary in-charge (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared video clips of Mr. Trump’s remarks in Japan and later in South Korea in which he repeated his claim that he stopped the India-Pakistan military conflict using trade. In his post, Mr. Ramesh said “the self-styled but now thoroughly shrunken and deeply exposed 56-inch chest is still quiet”. “So far he has said it 54 times. He has said it in the U.S., Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the U.K. He has said it mid-flight and on land. Now President Trump has said it again, while addressing business leaders in Japan last evening. No wonder his good friend in New Delhi does not want to hug him any more,” Mr. Ramesh said.
