Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal and others during a party meeting at AICC office, in New Delhi, Wednesday, May 14. PTI
India-Pak conflict: Congress to take out rallies to question PM's 'silence' on Trump's ceasefire claims
A CWC resolution was adopted at the meeting which said the attack in Pahalgam raises "deeply troubling" questions about an "apparent intelligence failure"
The Congress on Wednesday (May 14) accused the BJP of "politicising" Operation Sindoor and said it would take out rallies across the country to question the Prime Minister's "silence" on US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Addressing a joint press conference after a meeting attended by several Congress Working Committee members and senior leaders, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh and Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the BJP was trying to make the military action a "brand" for itself when the operation belongs to the armed forces and the country.
'Jai Hind Sabhas'
The Congress announced that in the coming days, 'Jai Hind Sabhas' will be held in various states to demand answers from the government and party leader Rahul Gandhi will address a press conference here on Friday.
The Congress made the assertions after the meeting that was attended by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries Ramesh, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sachin Pilot, among others, at its 24, Akbar Road office here. Gandhi chaired the proceedings as Kharge was not present due to personal reasons.
A CWC resolution was adopted at the meeting which said the attack in Pahalgam raises "deeply troubling" questions about an "apparent intelligence failure".
Earlier, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (May 13) once again claimed that his administration "successfully brokered a historic ceasefire" by using trade as a means stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan.
"As I said in my inaugural address, my greatest hope is to be a peacemaker and to be a unifier. I don't like war. We have the greatest military, by the way, in the history of the world,” Trump said while speaking at a Saudi-US investment forum in the Saudi capital.
‘I said trade, and it all stopped’
"Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan," he claimed.
“And I used trade to a large extent to do it. And I said, ‘Fellows, come on. Let's make a deal. Let's do some trading,” Trump said to applause from the high-level audience, which included billionaire Elon Musk. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also applauded.
“Let's not trade nuclear missiles. Let's trade the things that you make so beautifully. And they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders. And it all stopped. Hopefully, it'll remain that way, but it all stopped," Trump said.
No middleman involved in truce, says India
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Indian government sources in New Delhi have been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. They said no third party was involved.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also seemed to reject Trump's forceful comments that Washington brokered the truce between India and Pakistan.
Jaiswal said India has a "longstanding" national position that any issue relating to it will have to be addressed by New Delhi and Islamabad bilaterally.
"That stated policy (on Jammu and Kashmir) has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," he said.
‘Punitive action against Pak to continue’
Meanwhile, India on Tuesday said the punitive diplomatic and economic measures it announced against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), will remain in place.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India will keep the IWT in abeyance until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably" abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
He said the treaty was concluded in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, but Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by promoting cross-border terrorism.
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Live Updates
- 14 May 2025 1:14 PM IST
Pakistan participation in Asia Cup hockey in Rajgir doubtful
The national federation is awaiting a government advisory but Pakistan's participation in this year's Hero Asia Cup hockey tournament in India is in serious doubt because of the prevalent tension between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Asia Cup will be staged in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7. Hosts India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to participate in the 12th edition of the continental showpiece, a qualifying tournament for next year's World Cup to be held in Netherlands and Belgium.
"It is too early to say anything but we will follow the government's directive on this issue, which has been the case in the past," HI secretary general Bholanath Singh told PTI.
"We can't predict anything right now especially after the recent barbaric Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor that India conducted following that. "There is still close to three months for the tournament but we will abide by what our government suggests us. There are no two ways about it," he said.
- 14 May 2025 1:10 PM IST
Odisha CM flags off 'Tiranga Yatra' in Bhubaneswar
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday flagged off 'Tiranga Yatra' or 'Parakram Sobha Yatra’ in honour of the Indian armed forces for exhibiting unique valour during 'Operation Sindoor'.
The motorbike rally started from Kalinga Stadium and went up to Raj Bhavan here before passing through different parts of the city. After flagging off the Triranga Yatra, Majhi himself participated in the bike rally.
Some jawans of the Central Armed Police Forces also joined the bike rally.
- 14 May 2025 12:59 PM IST
Jharkhand BJP takes out Tiranga Yatra in Ranchi
The Jharkhand unit of the BJP on Wednesday organised a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi to celebrate the success of 'Operation Sindoor' carried out by the Indian armed forces against terror infrastructure in PoK and Pakistan.
Led by Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, the rally began from Shaheed Chowk in the heart of the state capital.
Holding tricolours, BJP workers and supporters raised slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Armed Forces Zindabad’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’. The yatra is scheduled to conclude at Birsa Munda Samadhi Sthal in Kokar, covering a distance of around 3 km.
- 14 May 2025 12:54 PM IST
BSF jawan Purnam Sahu's family thanks Centre for securing his release from Pak custody
The family members of Border Security Force constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was released by Pakistan from its custody on Wednesday, expressed immense relief and gratitude to the central government and BSF authorities for securing his return.
The constable, who hails from Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, was handed over to the BSF by Pakistan Rangers at 10:30 am via the Attari-Wagah border front in Punjab. Shaw was apprehended by the Rangers on April 23 from along the India-Pakistan International Border in Ferozepur district, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack.
“We are very happy today. We thank the central government and the BSF authorities for their efforts in safely bringing him back. The past two weeks have been filled with sleepless nights and uncertainty for us. We were constantly worried about his well-being,” a family member of Shaw told reporters. A BSF spokesperson said the handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols.
- 14 May 2025 12:47 PM IST
Yogi flags Tiranga Yatra in Lucknow, terms Pak 'failed state'
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the 'Bharat Shaurya Tiranga Yatra' on Wednesday and commended the armed forces for successfully striking terror infrastructure in the "failed nation" of Pakistan.
The success of Operation Sindoor, carried out in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, sent a powerful message to India's enemies, he said.
Pointing to the huge congregation at the rally, one of the many being organised by the BJP across Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said it proved the respect people have for the armed forces.
With India tracking the links of the Pahalgam massacre to Pakistan, Adityanath castigated the neighbouring nation as a "failed state" that has only sown seeds of terrorism in the past 70 to 75 years.
