New Delhi, January 7, 2026 – In a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling dispensation of buckling under international pressure, contrasting it sharply with the Congress party's historical resolve. His remarks, shared via a video on X (formerly Twitter), come amid escalating India-US trade tensions fueled by recent comments from US President Donald Trump.
Gandhi's video message, captioned "Fark samjho sirji" (Understand the difference, sir), was posted earlier today and has garnered thousands of views within hours. "I know these BJP–RSS people very well now. Put a little pressure on them, give them a little push and they run away in fear," Gandhi said, directly referencing Trump's assertions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interactions with him. He alleged, "As soon as Trump signalled from there, they picked up the phone and said, ‘What are you doing Modi ji?’ Narendra surrendered and with ‘yes sir’, Narendra Modi ji followed Trump’s signal."
The Congress scion drew a stark parallel to the 1971 Indo-Pak War, when the US Seventh Fleet was deployed to the Bay of Bengal in a show of force against India. "You might remember a time when the phone call didn’t come — the Seventh Fleet had come. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet came, weapons came, an aircraft carrier came. Indira Gandhi ji said, ‘I will do what I have to do.’ This is the difference," Gandhi stated, praising former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's unyielding stance. He further lambasted the BJP-RSS ecosystem, claiming, "From the time of Independence, they have had a habit of writing surrender letters. The moment even a little pressure is applied, they say, ‘Here, take it.’ That is their character. The Congress party does not surrender. Gandhi ji, Jawaharlal Nehru, these were not people who surrendered. They were people who stood up to superpowers."
Gandhi's salvo was triggered by Trump's remarks during a House GOP members’ retreat on Tuesday, where the US President boasted about his influence over India. Trump claimed Modi had approached him for a meeting, saying, “Prime Minister Modi came to see me… ‘Sir, may I see you please?’” He added that India had "reduced" its purchases of Russian oil "substantially" to appease him, amid 50% tariffs imposed on Indian exports—including a 25% duty tied to those imports—since August last year. Trump also highlighted delays in Apache helicopter deliveries to India, which have lingered for five years, underscoring ongoing bilateral frictions despite "good" personal ties with Modi.
The tariffs have sparked multiple rounds of trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington, but no comprehensive bilateral agreement has materialized. Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton criticized Trump's approach as lacking "strategic sense," adding fuel to the diplomatic debate.
As of this evening, the BJP has not issued an official response to Gandhi's accusations. However, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi piled on, questioning the BJP's silence. "BJP people are mute" over Trump's 'Make Me Happy' remark on Russian oil imports, Owaisi said, urging the government to "speak out" and accusing it of failing to assert India's position. Social media buzz has amplified the controversy, with Congress supporters sharing Gandhi's clip alongside historical clips of Indira Gandhi, while critics label it as "desperate opposition rhetoric."
This episode underscores deepening political polarization ahead of key electoral battles, with the opposition leveraging foreign policy flashpoints to portray the Modi government as compromising on national interests. As trade talks continue, Gandhi's intervention has reignited calls for parliamentary debate on India-US relations.
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