Congress leader Rahul Gandhi delivered a blistering critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of military operations against Pakistan, challenging him to publicly refute U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that five Indian jets were shot down during May’s Operation Sindoor. "If Modi has the courage of Indira Gandhi, he should stand in Parliament and declare Trump a liar," Gandhi demanded, citing Trump’s 28 public statements crediting himself for brokering the India-Pakistan ceasefire. His attack intensified when Congress MP Amarinder Singh presented photographic evidence of a crashed Rafale fighter (tail marking BS001) near Punjab’s Bhisiana Air Force Station, confirming one death and nine injuries, a loss the Indian Air Force initially dismissed as an "unknown aircraft" crash.
Gandhi underscored India’s diplomatic crisis, noting that "not one country condemned Pakistan" after April’s Pahalgam terror attack, revealing global skepticism toward Modi’s narrative. He highlighted the awkward optics of Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s White House luncheon with Trump. This isolation contrasts starkly with India’s claims of deterring Pakistan, especially as China and Turkey openly supported Islamabad during recent clashes.
The political firestorm extended to sports, with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi condemning India’s scheduled Asia Cup match against Pakistan in September. "We block 80% of Pakistan’s water, claiming ‘blood and water can’t flow together’, yet we play cricket? My conscience forbids it," Owaisi declared in Parliament. Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant echoed this, calling cricket ties "inappropriate" amid unresolved tensions. Despite public outrage, the BCCI confirmed the match will proceed in the UAE, bound by Asian Cricket Council commitments, a move critics label "profits over patriotism".
Gandhi accused Modi of surrendering to Pakistan by requesting a ceasefire just 30 minutes into Operation Sindoor and restricting pilots from targeting Pakistani air defenses. "You tied our pilots’ hands, then declared victory," he charged, contrasting this with Indira Gandhi’s unequivocal mandate during the 1971 war. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s admission that India informed Pakistan of hitting only "non-military targets" further fueled accusations of strategic weakness.
The crisis has exposed contradictions in India’s Pakistan policy: while halting all bilateral trade and aviation links, it participates in multilateral cricket events involving Pakistan. Former cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin slammed this inconsistency: "No bilateral ties should mean no multilateral games either". Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to gain diplomatic ground, hosting a U.S.-backed regional security summit and receiving IMF support despite Indian objections.