The Crossbill News Desk
The Congress on Thursday (May 22) launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of indulging in "weapons of mass distraction" by sending parliamentary delegations abroad while remaining silent on US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Speaking to PTI, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh criticized the dispatch of 50 Members of Parliament to various countries, calling it a "meaningless optical exercise" aimed at diverting attention from serious national security and diplomatic concerns.
Ramesh described the initiative as part of a broader "WMD" strategy — not weapons of mass destruction, but what he termed as “weapons of mass distraction.”
“India and Pakistan have WMDs. India has one more class of WMD that Pakistan does not have -- weapon of mass distraction. The sending of these delegations is part of the WMD exercise,” Ramesh said, mocking Prime Minister Modi's handling of the situation.
“He (Modi) has unleased three WMDs -- 'weapons of mass defamation' is unleashed from BJP headquarters and 'weapons of mass diversion' and 'weapons of mass distraction' are these MPs being sent as part of delegations.”
He referred to Trump’s remarks made during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, where the US President claimed credit for resolving the India-Pakistan standoff through trade diplomacy.
“PM is quiet on this (Trump's claims). There was 'Howdy Modi', 'Namaste Trump', all that but the PM is quiet on this. The EAM has not said anything on what (US Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio has claimed. Rubio, in fact, has gone one step further and claimed that talks between the two countries would take place at a 'neutral site'” he said further.
Ramesh also demanded that Modi convene a special session of Parliament to clarify the government’s position on Trump’s controversial claims.
The Congress leader noted that neither PM Modi nor External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had publicly rebutted or responded to Trump’s assertions, nor to the statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly confirmed the US-mediated talks and hinted at future discussions at a neutral venue.
"We are sending these delegations all over the world but the prime minister and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are continuously silent on the eight times, the US President has claimed these three things. It is very clear that India and Pakistan have become equal." Ramesh said.
Ramesh also flagged disturbing reports suggesting that the terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — which killed 26 people — were also behind three earlier attacks in Jammu and Kashmir: the December 2023 Poonch attack, and two incidents in Ganderbal and Gulmarg in October 2024.
"They were involved in the December 2023 terror attack in Poonch, October 2024 attack in Ganderbal and in the October 2024 attack in Gulmarg. If this is true that these terrorists were involved in three other incidents and this (Pahalgam) makes it the fourth. ...While MPs are floating around all over the world, terrorists are floating around all over Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
He demanded an official clarification from the government, warning that if true, these repeated lapses in neutralizing known terrorists raised serious concerns.
Ramesh also questioned why Operation Sindoor — India’s May 7 precision strikes on terror infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack — was suddenly halted. He called for a comprehensive review, akin to the post-Kargil Review Committee set up by the Vajpayee government in 1999.
"The only way you can assess this is with a Kargil committee-type of exercise. You have to do it," Ramesh said.
Recalling past parliamentary precedents, Ramesh noted that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had advanced a Parliament session during the 1962 Chinese incursion, rejecting calls for a closed-door discussion and choosing transparency instead — a move he suggested Modi should emulate.
Following the Indian air strikes under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan reportedly attempted retaliatory strikes on May 8, 9, and 10, which were met with a strong Indian counter-offensive. On May 10, President Trump claimed that Washington successfully mediated a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after intense overnight negotiations.
Congress has now turned the spotlight on the government’s silence, pressing for clarity and accountability as tensions linger and questions mount.
Speaking to PTI, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh criticized the dispatch of 50 Members of Parliament to various countries, calling it a "meaningless optical exercise" aimed at diverting attention from serious national security and diplomatic concerns.
Ramesh described the initiative as part of a broader "WMD" strategy — not weapons of mass destruction, but what he termed as “weapons of mass distraction.”
“India and Pakistan have WMDs. India has one more class of WMD that Pakistan does not have -- weapon of mass distraction. The sending of these delegations is part of the WMD exercise,” Ramesh said, mocking Prime Minister Modi's handling of the situation.
“He (Modi) has unleased three WMDs -- 'weapons of mass defamation' is unleashed from BJP headquarters and 'weapons of mass diversion' and 'weapons of mass distraction' are these MPs being sent as part of delegations.”
He referred to Trump’s remarks made during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, where the US President claimed credit for resolving the India-Pakistan standoff through trade diplomacy.
“PM is quiet on this (Trump's claims). There was 'Howdy Modi', 'Namaste Trump', all that but the PM is quiet on this. The EAM has not said anything on what (US Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio has claimed. Rubio, in fact, has gone one step further and claimed that talks between the two countries would take place at a 'neutral site'” he said further.
Ramesh also demanded that Modi convene a special session of Parliament to clarify the government’s position on Trump’s controversial claims.
The Congress leader noted that neither PM Modi nor External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had publicly rebutted or responded to Trump’s assertions, nor to the statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly confirmed the US-mediated talks and hinted at future discussions at a neutral venue.
"We are sending these delegations all over the world but the prime minister and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are continuously silent on the eight times, the US President has claimed these three things. It is very clear that India and Pakistan have become equal." Ramesh said.
Ramesh also flagged disturbing reports suggesting that the terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — which killed 26 people — were also behind three earlier attacks in Jammu and Kashmir: the December 2023 Poonch attack, and two incidents in Ganderbal and Gulmarg in October 2024.
"They were involved in the December 2023 terror attack in Poonch, October 2024 attack in Ganderbal and in the October 2024 attack in Gulmarg. If this is true that these terrorists were involved in three other incidents and this (Pahalgam) makes it the fourth. ...While MPs are floating around all over the world, terrorists are floating around all over Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
He demanded an official clarification from the government, warning that if true, these repeated lapses in neutralizing known terrorists raised serious concerns.
Ramesh also questioned why Operation Sindoor — India’s May 7 precision strikes on terror infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack — was suddenly halted. He called for a comprehensive review, akin to the post-Kargil Review Committee set up by the Vajpayee government in 1999.
"The only way you can assess this is with a Kargil committee-type of exercise. You have to do it," Ramesh said.
Recalling past parliamentary precedents, Ramesh noted that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had advanced a Parliament session during the 1962 Chinese incursion, rejecting calls for a closed-door discussion and choosing transparency instead — a move he suggested Modi should emulate.
Following the Indian air strikes under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan reportedly attempted retaliatory strikes on May 8, 9, and 10, which were met with a strong Indian counter-offensive. On May 10, President Trump claimed that Washington successfully mediated a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after intense overnight negotiations.
Congress has now turned the spotlight on the government’s silence, pressing for clarity and accountability as tensions linger and questions mount.
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