Just two days prior to the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, US President Donald Trump has once again stirred political controversy in India by reiterating his assertion of having facilitated peace between India and Pakistan during the hostilities in May. More notably, Trump has now claimed that as many as five fighter jets were shot down during the conflict—without clarifying whether they were from India or Pakistan.

In response to these assertions, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh launched a fierce critique of the Modi government, insisting that the Prime Minister must step forward to clarify the matter. “President Trump has now made this statement for the 24th time in 70 days. Yet, the Prime Minister continues to remain deliberately silent. Is this the ‘strong leadership’ that the BJP prides itself on?” Ramesh questioned.

Ramesh took to Twitter, stating that the Prime Minister owes the nation a “clear and categorical” explanation, particularly in light of his “years of public camaraderie and hug diplomacy” with Trump, alluding to the highly publicized ‘Howdy Modi’ and ‘Namaste Trump’ events that took place in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

“The issue is no longer about what Mr. Trump is asserting—it’s about why Mr. Modi is not responding,” Ramesh remarked. “If the US played no part in the ceasefire and trade was never discussed, then why this strategic silence from South Block?”

During a dinner with Republican lawmakers in Washington, Trump reiterated that his administration averted a significant war between India and Pakistan by connecting ceasefire agreements to trade. “We resolved it through trade. Five jets were shot down… actually,” Trump remarked, taking credit for alleviating what he characterized as a swiftly escalating nuclear crisis.

Trump asserts he halted the India-Pakistan conflict by threatening to ‘cancel all deals’. However, the Indian defense establishment has not confirmed Trump’s assertions in any capacity. While Air Marshal AK Bharti previously stated that India had downed “multiple high-tech” Pakistani aircraft, no specific numbers were disclosed. In contrast, Pakistan has claimed that only one of its aircraft sustained “minor damage,” while alleging it shot down six Indian jets—an assertion that Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has dismissed.

General Chauhan, addressing a defense conference earlier, stated, “What matters is not the number of jets downed, but the reasons behind it. Errors were corrected swiftly, and our counter-response was robust.”

Despite ongoing denials from Indian officials, Trump continues to uphold his narrative. According to Ramesh, this persistent discrepancy between US claims and Indian silence is no longer sustainable in a democracy. “The Parliament must be informed. The nation deserves clarity on whether Mr. Trump’s account is accurate, inaccurate, or partially accurate,” he stated.

With Trump’s recent remarks surfacing just before the Parliament session, and opposition leaders gearing up to challenge the government on various issues, this controversy is anticipated to be a focal point in the forthcoming debates. It remains uncertain whether the Prime Minister will finally address the matter.