New Delhi: A political storm erupted on Wednesday after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi took a sharp swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his controversial "Narendra, surrender" remark. The jibe refers to allegations of mediation by the United States in Operation Sindoor. Party national spokesperson Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi launched a scathing counterattack.

Addressing the media, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi tore into Gandhi’s remarks, calling them "cheap, low-level, and dangerous." He said Rahul Gandhi’s statement not only disrespected the Indian Army's valour, particularly during the recently concluded Operation Sindoor, but also echoed sentiments not even expressed by India’s known adversaries.

"Rahul Gandhi has said something which even the Army Chief of Pakistan has not said, nor has any terrorist organisation of Pakistan. Even Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed have not said such a thing. None of them said that India surrendered... I want to ask Rahul Gandhi- Does he want to get one step ahead of these people?" Trivedi asked.

In a hard-hitting analogy, Trivedi claimed the INDI Alliance’s heart “belongs to Pakistan,” and likened the alliance to the Hindi idiom "Muh mein Ram, bagal mein chhuri" (Ram on the lips, dagger under the arm).

Further attacking the Congress party, he said, “If you want to understand what surrender really means, remember Rahul Gandhi, just two years ago, you went to abroad and said: 'Why are the defenders of democracy, America and Europe, silent and not interfering in India?' That was surrender. On 15th July 2011, Rahul Gandhi said, 'It’s impossible to totally control terrorism.' That was surrender in the face of terror.”

Trivedi also referred to the market losses suffered by Chinese defence companies after Operation Sindoor, claiming, “Maybe there's a deep ache in his heart because Pakistan has suffered a loss and China too has incurred losses. China’s defence stocks, anyone can check the AVIC systems, like Chengdu, which manufactures the PM-15 missile, its stocks fell by 9 percent. The company that makes the JF-17 fighter jets saw its stocks fall by 15 percent. Overall, the stocks of companies manufacturing J-10 and JF-17 jets under AVIC Chengdu have dropped by about 20 percent.”

Rahul Gandhi’s controversial remark sparks outrage

At a press event in Bhopal, Rahul Gandhi had accused PM Modi of surrendering to US pressure during Donald Trump’s presidency. Referring to Modi’s foreign policy as submissive, Gandhi mocked, "Trump made a gesture, picked up the phone and said, ‘Modi ji, what are you doing?’ — Narendra... Surrender — and Modi ji followed Trump’s direction without question."

Gandhi also alleged that the Modi government stopped short of reclaiming PoK, despite the Indian Army’s readiness during Operation Sindoor.

He went on to target the BJP and RSS, accusing them of having a legacy of bowing to international pressure, saying, “This is a pattern. Whether it’s China or the U.S., they never push back.”

Congress rallies behind Gandhi

Following the backlash, Congress leaders strongly defended Rahul Gandhi’s statement, claiming it reflected uncomfortable truths the BJP was unwilling to accept. They even shared an image on their social media account showing Trump asking PM Modi to ‘surrendered’. 

Congress MP Imran Masood said, “What wrong has Rahul said? Has Rahul ever said anything wrong? He spoke the truth. Just remember 1971, when a country was split into two (referring to the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan). This time, if we had taken control of PoK, it would have been done -- but they (the government) stopped it. Our Army has no shortage of bravery and valour.”

Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari also stood in Gandhi’s defence, attacking the Modi government for not countering Trump’s multiple claims about brokering peace between India and Pakistan.

“Rahul Gandhi fired an arrow of truth that struck directly at the BJP's guilt, leaving them rattled. The BJP seems mentally unbalanced now. They've resorted to abusive, unparliamentary language -- only someone mentally disturbed would speak this way. What Rahul Gandhi said is absolutely right,” Tiwari said.

He added, “I want to say that if PM Modi has the courage, he should stand before Indira Gandhi's portrait and say that Trump did not ask India to surrender.”