Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 23: The political discourse took a sharp turn on Thursday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, labelling him the “posterboy of Pakistan” in response to his critical remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent diplomatic stance.
The war of words erupted after Rahul Gandhi, in a post on social media platform X, accused Prime Minister Modi of compromising India’s dignity by agreeing to pause military operations against Pakistan. Gandhi questioned why the PM, despite aggressive rhetoric, accepted what he called a “diplomatic retreat” during tense cross-border developments.
“Modi ji, stop giving hollow speeches,” Gandhi wrote. “Why did you believe Pakistan’s statement on terrorism? Why did you bow to Trump? You’ve compromised India's prestige,” he added, referring to recent international developments and alleged foreign pressure.
Responding strongly, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi fired back, saying, “It seems finally you have seen PM Modi’s address. Even if it took you 10 days, it’s a good thing. Modi government is not sending love letters, as was done by your own party for years.”
The BJP's counteroffensive didn’t stop there. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari further escalated the rhetoric by posting on X, “Speaks a man who is the posterboy of Pakistan! Congress today has become nothing but a pro-Pakistan fake news factory,” he alleged.
The Congress has been raising pointed questions about the sudden halt of Operation Sindoor, a reported counter-terror initiative aimed at dismantling terror camps across the border. The party argues that the military was gaining ground and the government’s decision appeared abrupt and politically motivated.
Political analysts see the spat as part of the larger election season narrative, where both national parties are attempting to strike a chord on national security and foreign policy issues. With Pakistan often being a central theme in India’s political exchanges, this row has added yet another layer to the highly charged atmosphere ahead of key electoral battles.
The BJP, meanwhile, continues to defend its actions, claiming India under Modi has demonstrated unprecedented strength in handling terrorism and cross-border threats.