India’s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer a transparent and detailed explanation following a controversial statement made by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump, while speaking at a private dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House on Friday, claimed that five fighter jets were shot down during the recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
Trump stated, “Planes were being shot out of the air — five, five, four or five — but I think five jets were shot down actually,” referring to the conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations. His remarks have stirred a political storm in India, prompting demands for accountability and clarity.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was at the forefront of the opposition’s response, urging Modi to break his silence and address the public directly. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote, “Modi ji, what is the truth about the five [jets]? The country has the right to know!”
The opposition has intensified its criticism of the Modi government’s handling of the brief but high-stakes military clash, accusing it of withholding crucial information from the public. The Congress party insists that such claims, coming from a former U.S. president, warrant an official clarification to maintain public trust and uphold national transparency on sensitive defense matters.
