New Delhi – Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and clarify the recent statement made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the downing of five fighter jets during past India-Pakistan tensions.
Speaking at an event, Donald Trump claimed that “five aircraft were downed” during a conflict between India and Pakistan, without going into specifics. The remark quickly gained attention, prompting Rahul Gandhi to question the government’s silence on the matter.
Taking to social media, Rahul Gandhi posted a video clip of Trump’s statement and asked, “Modi ji, what is the truth behind these five aircraft? The nation deserves to know.”
The Indian National Congress also joined the demand for transparency, with party spokespeople referencing past official comments where Indian military officials appeared to acknowledge aircraft losses. Notably, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan once remarked, “It’s not about whether the aircraft were downed, but how it happened.”
The controversy harks back to an incident in April when an attack in the Pulwama region of Kashmir resulted in 26 fatalities. India, without presenting concrete evidence, blamed Pakistan for the assault. Pakistan denied involvement and offered to cooperate in a neutral investigation.
Tensions escalated, and on May 7, India launched a military operation, to which Pakistan responded by shooting down five Indian jets, including advanced Rafale fighters, according to media reports at the time.
