Gandhi shared a video of his speech delivered in Bhopal on June 3, posting it on X with the caption, “Understand the difference, sir.” In the clip, he invoked the 1971 India-Pakistan war to underline what he described as contrasting leadership styles. “You will remember the time when there were no phone calls. The Seventh Fleet came, weapons came, an aircraft carrier arrived. Indira Gandhi said, ‘I will do what I have to do,’” Gandhi said, referring to US naval deployment during the conflict. “That’s the difference,” he added.
The Congress leader went on to allege that Prime Minister Modi capitulates under pressure. “Put a little pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he surrenders,” Gandhi said in the video, adding a broader political attack on the BJP and RSS. The comments have triggered a fresh political exchange, with the ruling party yet to issue a detailed response.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after President Trump claimed that Prime Minister Modi personally sought a meeting with him amid tensions over US trade measures. Speaking to reporters, Trump said Washington had imposed a 50% tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil and suggested Modi was displeased by the move. “Prime Minister Modi came to meet me and said, ‘Sir, may I meet you?’” Trump said, without specifying when or where the interaction took place.
The Congress amplified the criticism on Tuesday by sharing a 43-second AI-generated video on social media that mocked the Prime Minister over Trump’s comments. The party captioned the post, “The country is bearing the price of Modi’s fear,” escalating the political messaging around the issue.
Trump also referenced India’s long-standing defence procurement talks with the US, mentioning Apache helicopters and stating that Washington was “changing” the terms. India has placed orders for 68 Apache helicopters as part of its defence modernisation programme.
The episode has added fuel to an ongoing debate over India’s foreign policy posture and its handling of relations with the United States. While the government has not formally responded to Trump’s claims, officials in the past have maintained that India conducts diplomacy based on national interest and strategic autonomy.
As political exchanges intensify, Gandhi’s comparison with Indira Gandhi has reopened historical parallels, positioning the 1971 war legacy against present-day diplomacy—an argument likely to feature prominently in the weeks ahead.
