Congress MP Deepender Hooda on Monday called on the central government to take a stronger position against former US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack, Hooda said the government needed to send a clear signal.
“It is unfortunate that the US president said 28 times (about the claim on the India-Pakistan ceasefire)… Donald (Trump) ko chup karao, Donald ka muh band karao ya phir Hindustan mein, mein McDonald's ko band karao (Either shut Donald’s mouth or close down McDonald’s in India),” he said.
His remarks were a direct criticism of what he called the Modi government's indecisive foreign policy.
“You can't decide whether to shake hands with the US or stare it down. During UPA’s time, we had the courage to do both, show strength when needed and friendship when possible,” Hooda added.
Jaishankar dismisses claims, cites timeline
Responding to the Opposition's concerns, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the House without naming Trump. He laid out a sequence of events around the May ceasefire with Pakistan.
“On May 9, US Vice President JD Vance called the Prime Minister, warning of a massive Pakistani attack in the next two hours. The PM, in his response, made it very clear that if such an attack happens, it would meet an appropriate response from our side. That attack took place and was foiled by our armed forces on May 9–10. Our response was delivered,” Jaishankar said.
He added that India received calls on 10 May suggesting Pakistan’s willingness to halt hostilities.
“Our position was that if Pakistan was ready, we needed to get this request from the Pakistani side through the DGMO channels. At no stage, in any conversation with the United States, was there any linkage with trade and what was going on,” he said.
Jaishankar also clarified that no phone call took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump between 22 April and 17 June.
Priyanka Gandhi: ‘He did not categorically deny US role’
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised doubts about the government’s version, pointing to what she described as ambiguity in Jaishankar’s speech.
“There are certain things that he has not categorically said. He has made some statements, but has not categorically said that the US was not involved in the ceasefire. He said that PM Modi did not speak to US President Trump for a certain period, but did not categorically say that the US was not involved. That is interesting,” she said.
TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee asks: ‘Why did we stop the fight?’
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also questioned the government’s decision to agree to a ceasefire, especially when, according to him, India had the upper hand.
“…We thought that we would win the war and teach a lesson to Pakistan. Why did we declare a ceasefire? Have we ever seen that innings be declared when the player is about to score a century? They did the same,” he said.
Banerjee also referred to Trump’s online post claiming credit for the ceasefire.
“US President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, said that the ceasefire was agreed upon after his intervention. If it is incorrect, why didn’t PM Modi post and say that this is incorrect? Why did we declare a ceasefire under the pressure of the American President?”
'India must not be compared with Pakistan'
Hooda argued that India, as a global power, must not be treated on the same level as Pakistan in the eyes of world powers.
“India is a major global power. The US must choose what kind of relationship it wants with us,” he said.
He recalled the post-26/11 period, when former US President Barack Obama took a clear stand against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. That, Hooda suggested, stood in contrast with Trump’s self-promotional claims and the current Indian government’s restrained posture.
He closed with a sharp suggestion — if Trump continues to make such statements unchecked, India should not rule out economic measures.
“If Trump keeps making such claims, the Indian government should take action, either by publicly countering the statements or by removing US brands like McDonald’s to send a stronger message,” he said.
The discussion took place against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, a military engagement triggered by intelligence of a large Pakistani offensive on 9 May. Indian forces responded swiftly, and satellite images later showed damage at Pakistani airbases. On 10 May, communications from multiple international channels indicated Pakistan’s intent to de-escalate. The ceasefire that followed marked the end of a brief but tense standoff. However, Trump's public statements claiming credit for this outcome sparked outrage among several Indian political leaders.
So far, the government has not issued any public rebuttal to Trump’s repeated remarks.
Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack, Hooda said the government needed to send a clear signal.
“It is unfortunate that the US president said 28 times (about the claim on the India-Pakistan ceasefire)… Donald (Trump) ko chup karao, Donald ka muh band karao ya phir Hindustan mein, mein McDonald's ko band karao (Either shut Donald’s mouth or close down McDonald’s in India),” he said.
#WATCH | Speaking on Operation Sindoor in the House, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda says, "...Donald (Trump) ko chup karao, Donald ka muh band karao ya phir Hindustan mein McDonald's ko band karao..." pic.twitter.com/tJQHTrL6qa
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025
His remarks were a direct criticism of what he called the Modi government's indecisive foreign policy.
“You can't decide whether to shake hands with the US or stare it down. During UPA’s time, we had the courage to do both, show strength when needed and friendship when possible,” Hooda added.
Jaishankar dismisses claims, cites timeline
Responding to the Opposition's concerns, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the House without naming Trump. He laid out a sequence of events around the May ceasefire with Pakistan.
“On May 9, US Vice President JD Vance called the Prime Minister, warning of a massive Pakistani attack in the next two hours. The PM, in his response, made it very clear that if such an attack happens, it would meet an appropriate response from our side. That attack took place and was foiled by our armed forces on May 9–10. Our response was delivered,” Jaishankar said.
He added that India received calls on 10 May suggesting Pakistan’s willingness to halt hostilities.
“Our position was that if Pakistan was ready, we needed to get this request from the Pakistani side through the DGMO channels. At no stage, in any conversation with the United States, was there any linkage with trade and what was going on,” he said.
Jaishankar also clarified that no phone call took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump between 22 April and 17 June.
Priyanka Gandhi: ‘He did not categorically deny US role’
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised doubts about the government’s version, pointing to what she described as ambiguity in Jaishankar’s speech.
“There are certain things that he has not categorically said. He has made some statements, but has not categorically said that the US was not involved in the ceasefire. He said that PM Modi did not speak to US President Trump for a certain period, but did not categorically say that the US was not involved. That is interesting,” she said.
TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee asks: ‘Why did we stop the fight?’
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also questioned the government’s decision to agree to a ceasefire, especially when, according to him, India had the upper hand.
“…We thought that we would win the war and teach a lesson to Pakistan. Why did we declare a ceasefire? Have we ever seen that innings be declared when the player is about to score a century? They did the same,” he said.
Banerjee also referred to Trump’s online post claiming credit for the ceasefire.
“US President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, said that the ceasefire was agreed upon after his intervention. If it is incorrect, why didn’t PM Modi post and say that this is incorrect? Why did we declare a ceasefire under the pressure of the American President?”
'India must not be compared with Pakistan'
Hooda argued that India, as a global power, must not be treated on the same level as Pakistan in the eyes of world powers.
“India is a major global power. The US must choose what kind of relationship it wants with us,” he said.
He recalled the post-26/11 period, when former US President Barack Obama took a clear stand against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. That, Hooda suggested, stood in contrast with Trump’s self-promotional claims and the current Indian government’s restrained posture.
He closed with a sharp suggestion — if Trump continues to make such statements unchecked, India should not rule out economic measures.
“If Trump keeps making such claims, the Indian government should take action, either by publicly countering the statements or by removing US brands like McDonald’s to send a stronger message,” he said.
The discussion took place against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, a military engagement triggered by intelligence of a large Pakistani offensive on 9 May. Indian forces responded swiftly, and satellite images later showed damage at Pakistani airbases. On 10 May, communications from multiple international channels indicated Pakistan’s intent to de-escalate. The ceasefire that followed marked the end of a brief but tense standoff. However, Trump's public statements claiming credit for this outcome sparked outrage among several Indian political leaders.
So far, the government has not issued any public rebuttal to Trump’s repeated remarks.
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