NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond in Parliament to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan.
With the Monsoon session of Parliament set to begin on July 21, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh posted on X (formerly Twitter), referencing Trump’s latest remarks on a trade deal with India. “Today the score stands at 66 days, 23 reiterations,” Ramesh wrote, alluding to how many times Trump has repeated his claim.
“The score will no doubt change before Parliament resumes. But the Prime Minister must give a clear response in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The nation wants to know,” he added.
Trump had again claimed on Monday that he averted a potential “nuclear war” between India and Pakistan by facilitating a ceasefire through trade negotiations.
Since May 10, when Trump first declared on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to an immediate ceasefire following overnight talks mediated by Washington, he has reiterated the claim multiple times.
India, however, has consistently rejected this version, asserting that the ceasefire was the result of direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.
In a phone conversation with Trump last month, PM Modi firmly reiterated that India does not—and will never—accept third-party mediation. He clarified that the de-escalation was initiated by Pakistan through a request for talks between the DGMOs.
India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Four days of cross-border missile and drone strikes culminated in a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on May 10.
