New Delhi: A political war of words erupted on Thursday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising India’s national interests by agreeing to a ceasefire with Pakistan. In a sharp rebuttal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labeled Gandhi the “posterboy of Pakistan” and accused the Congress of historically appeasing the neighbouring country.
The controversy was triggered by a post from Rahul Gandhi on social media platform X, where he questioned PM Modi’s decision to halt military operations under Operation Sindoor, alleging it was a surrender of national prestige. “Modi ji, stop giving hollow speeches. Just tell: Why did you believe Pakistan’s statement on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice India’s interests by bowing to Trump? Why does your blood boil only in front of cameras? You have compromised with the prestige of India!” Gandhi wrote.
Responding to the post, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slammed Gandhi for what he called delayed and misplaced criticism. “It seems you finally watched PM Modi’s address — even if it took you 10 days. The Modi government is not sending love letters to Pakistan, as your party did for years. We have given the strongest response ever,” Joshi wrote on X.
The BJP’s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari launched an even stronger attack, branding Gandhi as a sympathizer of Pakistan. “Speaks a man who is the posterboy of Pakistan,” Bhandari wrote on X. In a follow-up post, he added, “The Congress today has become nothing but a pro-Pakistan fake news factory.”
The Congress has repeatedly criticized the Modi government for announcing a ceasefire after conducting retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure across the border. Party leaders argue that halting the military operation prematurely gave Pakistan a diplomatic breather.
The verbal sparring reflects the heightened political temperature following recent military engagements between India and Pakistan, with both the ruling BJP and the Congress using the situation to project their respective narratives on national security and leadership
