India-Pakistan ceasefire: Congress targets PM Modi over Trump's claim of using 'trade deal' to broker peace

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to US President Donald Trump's claim on playing the mediator between India and Pakistan to end the military standoff after Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians."The Prime Minister did not speak one word on the claims made by President Trump minutes before his address to the nation. Has India accepted America's mediation? Has India agreed to hold talks with Pakistan at a neutral venue? Will India now accept US demand for opening of markets in automobile, agriculture and other sectors?" Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on X reacting to Trump's latest statement.Moments before PM Modi made his address to the nation, US President Trump claimed that he used "threat to stop trade" to make India and Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire."I said. Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let's stop it, let's stop it. If you stop it, we're doing trade. If you don't stop it, we're not going to do any trade. People have never really used trade the way I used it. By that, I can tell you, and all of a sudden they said. I think we're gonna stop, and they have," Trump said.India rejected the United States's claim on any talks linking trade with the military operations. "After Operation Sindoor commenced, US Vice President JD Vance spoke to PM Modi on May 9. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio spoke to EAM Dr S Jaishankar on May 8 and May 10 and to NSA Doval on May 10. There was no reference to trade in any of these discussions, news agency ANI reported quoting govt sources.However, the Congress was quick to ask questions to PM Modi on these claims even as the party heaped praise on the armed forces. "We salute and respect our armed forces without any conditions. They have increased the prestige of India. Every moment, we are with them 100%. But Prime Minister Modi still needs to answer some questions," Jairam Ramesh said.The Congress demanded that the Prime Minister should immediately hold dialouge with leaders of all political parties - which he has been avoiding for the last 20 days. "The coming months will demand cautious diplomacy and common resolve. Merely making one or two statements can not be an alternative in the present circumstances," the Congress leader wrote on X.Congress leader Pawan Khera said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Modi did not react to Donald Trump's claim that he used trade as a weapon to force India and Pakistan to agree to a truce. "Trump's claims were shocking for the country. We expected the Prime Minister to give a befitting reply to these remarks. Trump has been making remarks on the Kashmir issue and we have not seen any rebuttal from the government," Pawan Khera said."We demand once again that the Prime Minister convene a special session of Parliament. We again request the Prime Minister to attend the all-party meeting and give direction to country's common resolve on these issues so that India can speak in one voice to the world," the Congress leader said.