Silence Over Trump ‘Mediation’, Noise Over Sindoor

Trump continues to not only refer to India and Pakistan on equal terms, what some critics say, using a hyphen! As if that were enough, Trump said “Pakistan has very strong leadership. Some people don’t like when I say this, but it is what it is

Every head of government in the world has a freewheeling press conference now and then. Ours has had none for 11 years. Mr. Narendra Modi produced, directed, and scripted his media interactions last year during the election campaign - during one of which he famously claimed to be non-biological. But he has NEVER EVER had the courage to have an undoctored press meet. This is in total contrast to all his predecessors. His favourite hate used to have spontaneous press meets almost every other month where he would be ruthlessly questioned and he would answer patiently. That is one way our democratic foundations got established. -Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary, AICC

Eleven years on, and not a single Press Conference by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not that Modi did not have a single media meet. He spoke to scores meetings with selected media persons and television channels with apparently pre-scripted questions and answers. Even a trainee journalist could see through the scripted interviews as there is no cross questioning or a feeble attempt to verify Modi’s statements on any of the platforms. It has been just one-way traffic all along, and will remain so.

Having said that, the stoic silence on part of the top leadership over US President Donald Trump’s tall claims that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor is baffling, to say the least. Trump did not say it once, twice or thrice. He repeated it about a dozen times. Worse still, he claimed (and continues to claim) that he prevented a possible nuclear clash after he threatened both the country leaders with blocking US trade with them.

Look at what the leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had to say: “Trump has made the statement of brokering peace between India and Pakistan many times. Trump has said publicly 11 times, 11 times, that I made Narendra Modi surrender. Narendra Modi is unable to respond, and unable to say that Trump is lying because it’s the truth.”

In fact, the Congress has even created a meme with 10 video reels of Trump with the claims that he made on May 12, 13, 14,15, 17, 21, twice on 31, and June 5.

There was an admission on part of the government that there was a talk between Trump and Modi but there was no talk of trade that led to the ceasefire which of course was announced to the world by the US President and not India or Pakistan head.

While Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif was quick to latch on to Trump and thank America for the mediation, India failed to snatch the initiative to announce the ceasefire after the request came from Pakistan. On top of everything, Trump continues to not only refer to India and Pakistan on equal terms, what some critics say, using a hyphen! As if that were enough, Trump said “Pakistan has very strong leadership. Some people don’t like when I say this, but it is what it is. And they stopped that war. I’m very proud of them. Am I getting credit? No. They don’t give me credit for anything.”

He obviously had India in mind when he said some people don’t like it? Who else would not appreciate such mindless statements? But Trump need not worry as no Indian leader questioned him for praising Pakistan which harbours terror. The US support for Pakistan can also be made out from the IMF approving one-billion-dollar lending to our terror-sponsor neighbour. And very recently, the UN Security Council appointed vice-chairman of the anti-terror committee and to chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee. Critics says there are nothing short of our diplomatic bungles

The Modi government sent out seven delegations to 32 countries to convince the world about the need for the Operation Sindoor and expose Pak terror support. But they hardly succeeded in countering Trump claims of mediation with trade threats. Tharoor, who led the team to the US, said "There is no equivalence between a country that provides safe haven to terrorism, and a country that's a flourishing multi-party democracy that's trying to get on with its business." Wordplay apart, Tharoor did not say anything specifically on Trump’s trade threat nor was he specifically asked. So, silence on this aspect continues amid Trump’s continuous claim series.

The US State Department statement merely said in its brief statement: Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with an Indian parliamentary delegation in Washington. The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Deputy and delegation discussed the importance of advancing key areas of the bilateral relationship, including expanding trade and commercial ties to foster economic growth and prosperity in both countries.

Congress spokesperson summed up the seven delegation visits thus: And the one big question we are asking is that some of these delegations, in fact most of these delegations were made to meet people of Indian origin overseas. They were made to address people of Indian origin, and Indian embassies and High Commissions. How about addressing your own Parliament? You don’t want to call a session there, but you want to address Indians overseas… I mean, what kind of doublespeak is this and what have we achieved?”

On a TV debate, I was asked as to why the BJP makes an event of every government achievement. I said that’s the party’s 11-year-old culture and it flows from the top. That also explains the roadshows that the Prime Minister has been conducting across the country on one pretext or another and talking about Operation Sindoor. He has also developed this typical habit of speaking about himself in third person! Modi did this, Modi did that and now they realise what happens if they challenge Modi. Being a party which is always in an election mode, BJP has been trying to take full advantage of the attack on Pak terror camps without making anyone accountable for the main cause – the Pahalgam attack. Nor has there been any talk of accountability for the previous terror attacks at Uri and Pulwama.

Modi planted a single sapling of Sindoor in the PM’s official residential premises that is surrounded by plenty of greenery. It was a solo photo-op event. I, me, myself and Modi! Mind you, this was supposed to be a World Environment Day event.

The Modi government has not yielded to the opposition demand for a special Parliament session to discuss the Pahalgam attack and the aftermath. It would have been an excellent opportunity for the government to make a unified call for declaring Pakistan a terror state. The government, on the contrary, has issued notice 47 days in advance for the monsoon session of Parliament apparently to scuttle the opposition demand for a special meet. These 47 days give ample time for PM and BJP to create enough and more noise, build crescendo for themselves to opaque any damage that the opposition might causes to the saffron party. This also allows them to take full political advantage of ‘Sindoor’ ahead of the Bihar elections. What does it mean for the opposition? Watch this space.

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a YouTube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)