NEW DELHI: Indian opposition leaders have demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump said that five fighter jets were downed during the recent Pakistan-India war.
Trump, speaking at a dinner with Republican lawmakers at the White House, said: “Planes were being shot out of the air. Five, I think five jets were shot down actually,” referring to the conflict between India and Pakistan that flared up in May following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the prime minister’s silence, posting on X: “Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 [jets]? The country has the right to know!”
मोदी जी, 5 जहाज़ों का सच क्या है?
देश को जानने का हक है! pic.twitter.com/mQeaGCz4wp
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 19, 2025
Gandhi’s comment comes amid growing criticism of the Modi government’s handling of the brief but intense conflict after the Pahalgam incident.
On May 7, India launched airstrikes across the Line of Control (LoC) targeting various cities in Pakistan. The attack prompted a swift and forceful response from Pakistan.
A ceasefire was brokered on 10 May following diplomatic intervention by Washington.
In a statement following the strikes, Pakistan claimed it had downed six Indian aircraft during air-to-air combat.
India’s top military commander later confirmed a change in strategy after suffering losses on the first day of engagement.
Further intensifying scrutiny, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra criticised the Modi government for its silence over military losses.
Each Rafaele jet was bought with $250 mn of tax payer money. We know at least 1 was shot down. Now @POTUS says total 5 jets (not all Rafaeles ) were downed. Doesn’t India deserve a post Sindoor briefing?
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 19, 2025
She referenced Trump’s comments, writing on social media: “Each Rafale jet was bought with $250 million of taxpayer money. We know at least one was shot down. Now @POTUS says total five jets (not all Rafales) were downed. Doesn’t India deserve a post-Sindoor briefing?”
Moitra was referring to Operation Sindoor, the codename for India’s military action in response to the Pahalgam attack. Critics argue that the government has not adequately briefed the public or Parliament on the full extent of the operation’s consequences.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also responded to Trump’s remarks, pointing out that the US president has repeatedly claimed credit for halting the conflict.
“Since 10 May, President Trump has said 24 times that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan and linked peace to trade deals with the US,” Ramesh said.
“Now he says five fighter jets were shot down. Parliament is about to convene, and the prime minister must break his silence. No one else will do. We don’t want a substitute batsman — only the PM must answer.”
संसद के मानसून सत्र की शुरुआत से ठीक दो दिन पहले, ‘ट्रंप मिसाइल’ 24वीं बार दागी गई -और हर बार की तरह इस बार भी वही दो बातें दोहराई गईं:
1. अमेरिका ने भारत और पाकिस्तान,दो परमाणु संपन्न देशों के बीच युद्ध रोक दिया।
2. अगर युद्ध जारी रहा , तो कोई व्यापार समझौता नहीं होगा । यानी… https://t.co/5OzmvSZquG
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 19, 2025
Ramesh added that the opposition would demand a special multi-day debate in Parliament, covering key topics including the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, the US role in brokering the ceasefire, and growing concerns over China’s strategic influence in the region.
While the Indian government has yet to officially respond to Trump’s claims or the opposition’s demands, analysts suggest the issue may dominate the upcoming parliamentary session.
Trump has consistently claimed that his administration played a pivotal role in ending the Pakistan-India conflict, including via social media, where he announced the 10 May ceasefire.
His latest remarks have once again thrown a spotlight on the incident and reignited debate over India’s handling of the crisis.
