New Delhi, April 8 – In a sharp criticism of the government, the Congress said on Wednesday that Pakistan's role in bringing about the ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran is a "major setback" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "highly personalized diplomacy," and asked what happened to "papa ne war rukwa di."
The opposition party also questioned why Modi, who claims a very special relationship with the US, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf countries, and who also holds the BRICS+ presidency this year, was not involved in the ceasefire negotiations.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Modi's "lack of action" is evident in his silence on Israel's aggressive behavior, as well as the unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his friend in the White House.
He said the international community will cautiously welcome the two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
"The conflict began on February 28th with targeted attacks on key figures in the Iranian regime. These attacks occurred just two days after Prime Minister Modi completed his much-publicized visit to Israel, a visit that diminished India's global standing," Ramesh claimed.
He also pointed out that Modi has not commented on Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and its aggressive expansionist policies in the occupied West Bank.
"Pakistan's role in bringing about the ceasefire is a major setback to both the substance and style of Mr. Modi's highly personalized diplomacy," he said.
The policy to isolate Pakistan for its support to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded, Ramesh claimed, unlike what Manmohan Singh achieved after the Mumbai terror attacks.
He argued that a bankrupt economy dependent on external aid and a country facing numerous challenges cannot play such a significant role.
"He (Modi) or his team has never explained why Operation Sindoor was suddenly halted on May 10, 2025 – the first announcement of which came from the US Secretary of State, and for which the US President has claimed credit almost a hundred times since then," the Congress leader said.
"There is a palpable sense of relief everywhere. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has dismissed Pakistan as a 'dalal.' But now the self-proclaimed 'Vishwaguru' is exposed, his 56-inch chest has shrunk," Ramesh said.
He added, "His lack of action is evident in his silence on Israel's aggressive behavior, as well as the unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his friend in the White House."
In another post on X, Ramesh said, "Why is the PM of India – who claims very special friendship with the US, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf countries and who also holds the BRICS+ Presidency this year – not involved in the ceasefire negotiations? How and why was India not a key player during the ceasefire negotiations?"
"What happened to 'papa ne war rukwa di'?" Ramesh said, referring to a promotional video released in March 2024 that implied India had intervened to halt the war between Ukraine and Russia for the evacuation of Indian students in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized "western powers" for speaking in a "despicable" manner about the Iran conflict and said the world is understanding as the "veil of morality falls" from the face of the West.
The Congress general secretary asserted that hatred, anger, violence, and injustice never win, while courage always prevails.
"Iranian men and women formed human chains around their country's resources while western powers spoke in a despicable manner, signaling the 'end of a civilization'," Priyanka Gandhi said on X.
"The world is watching and understanding as the veil of morality falls from across the face of the West. Hatred, anger, violence, and injustice never win. Courage always prevails," she said.
US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran late Tuesday, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump de-escalated the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal or face attacks on its bridges and power plants meant to destroy the Iranian civilization.
Trump made the dramatic announcement on Truth Social on Tuesday evening (US time) even as Democrats called for his removal over unhinged threats to wipe out the Iranian civilization.
"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," the US President said in a social media post.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the US in Pakistan beginning Friday. Neither Iran nor the US said when the ceasefire would begin, and attacks took place in Israel, Iran, and across the Gulf region early Wednesday.