Nothing less than treason, says BJP on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘surrender’ remark

File picture of Union Minister and BJP president J.P. Nadda. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of insulting the armed forces and the country with his remarks aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party described the remarks as “nothing less than treason”.

On Tuesday (June 3, 2025), Mr. Gandhi had alleged that Mr. Modi “immediately surrendered” after receiving a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump, referring to the decision to suspend Operation Sindoor on May 10.

“Rahul Gandhi’s terming the unmatched valour and courage of the Indian armed forces a ‘surrender’ is not only unfortunate but also a grave insult to them, the nation, and 140 crore Indians. If any Pakistani had said this, we would have laughed at him. However, after the manner in which Operation Sindoor wreaked havoc in Pakistan, no one from Pakistan -- from its army to even its Prime Minister -- dared to say this, but Rahul Gandhi has said this! This is nothing less than treason,” said BJP chief J.P. Nadda through a post on X.

Mr. Nadda said: “The Indian armed forces penetrated 300 km into Pakistan, destroyed 11 of its airbases, demolished nine terrorist bases, and killed more than 150 terrorists. A wailing Pakistan has been telling the world that the Indian armed forces destroyed everything at the 18 places they attacked, and Rahul Gandhi talks about the ‘surrender’ of the country!”

“Rahul Gandhi should know that the success of Operation Sindoor was not announced by the government or any BJP spokesperson, but by senior officers of the Indian armed forces,” he said, adding that the operation was a declaration of their bravery and valour.

“In reality, those whose policies have been of surrender cannot think of anything beyond this -- Isn’t it so, Rahul Gandhi?,” asked the Union Minister.

“Rahul Gandhi, you may have surrendered, your party may have surrendered, your leaders may have surrendered -- your history has been like this -- but India never surrenders. ‘Surrender’ is in the dictionary of your party Congress, it is in your DNA... you should remember the tenure of your party’s governments and how you ‘surrendered’ in history,” he said.

Mr. Nadda said: “You surrendered to terrorism, surrendered in ‘Sharm el-Sheikh’; surrendered at the table in Shimla after winning the 1971 war; surrendered in the Indus Water Treaty; surrendered Haji Pir Pass; surrendered 160-km area of Chhamb sector; surrendered in the 1962 war; surrendered in 1948; and even surrendered to the Muslim League at the time of Independence of the country.”

Earlier, at a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Mr. Gandhi’s comments reflected a “sick and dangerous” mindset and accused the Congress leader of speaking in support of Pakistan.

Responding to a query, he said: “On the issue of the U.S. President’s statement, the Government of India has clarified a number of times that there was no-third party mediation.”

Published - June 04, 2025 10:52 pm IST