National: In a charged session of the Lok Sabha on July 28, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi unleashed a volley of sharp questions directed at the Central Government, casting a shadow of doubt over India’s foreign policy conduct and national security apparatus.
Amidst swirling diplomatic speculation sparked by President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions of mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Gogoi’s remarks ignited a fresh debate on transparency and accountability in high-stakes international relations.
Gogoi minced no words when he voiced concerns about an apparent communication vacuum between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-President Donald Trump. “It appears there was a complete lack of dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. It seems one of them was not being truthful. This raises questions about the trust and balance between the two governments,” he stated to the media, demanding clarity from the government. He further questioned the extent of diplomatic engagements, asking, “Were there no official conversations taking place between U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar either?” The Congress MP underscored the Opposition’s and the public’s right to know, adding, “We expected Prime Minister Modi to make a categorical statement on whether he had indeed spoken to President Trump on the issue at hand. Transparency is key in matters involving foreign relations.”
The Lok Sabha debate, specifically addressing “Operation Sindoor,” saw Gogoi escalate his concerns, particularly focusing on the sudden ceasefire agreement with Pakistan and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. He expressed bewilderment over the Prime Minister’s silence on the ceasefire, stating, “The entire country, including the Opposition, was united in support of the Prime Minister. But on May 10, we suddenly learned of a ceasefire. Why? If Pakistan was about to surrender, who made us stop? To whom did we surrender?” Gogoi directly referenced Trump’s claims, asserting, “Trump has publicly stated 26 times that he pressured India and Pakistan to announce a ceasefire by threatening trade repercussions. We want the truth behind this claim.” He also questioned the government’s perceived inability to influence international financial aid to Pakistan, especially from institutions like the International Monetary Fund.
Shifting his focus to national security, Gogoi held Union Home Minister Amit Shah accountable for the security lapse in the Pahalgam terror attack, where five terrorists remain at large even after 100 days. “Despite drones, Pegasus, satellites—how have you not caught them yet?” he questioned, dismissing any attempts to “hide behind the Lieutenant Governor.” He further criticised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s explanation of Operation Sindoor, demanding answers on how terrorists infiltrated Indian territory to carry out the attack. While Singh clarified that Operation Sindoor was aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across the border, Gogoi reiterated that the Opposition, though supportive of national security, would not tolerate obfuscation. “We are not the enemy. We stand with our country and our armed forces, but we will continue to question the government on lies and deceit,” he affirmed, setting the stage for continued scrutiny of India’s foreign and security policies.
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