‘Will Trump kidnap our PM’: Prithviraj Chavan sparks row; BJP hits back

Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday stoked a fresh controversy with his remarks on the US actions in Venezuela as he insinuated whether US President Donald Trump would carry out a similar operation in India and kidnap Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to a news agency after Trump’s alleged threat to further increase tariffs on India,”With a 50 per cent tariff, trade is simply not possible. In effect, this amounts to blocking India-US trade, especially exports from India to the United States. Since a direct ban cannot be imposed, tariffs have been used as a tool to stop trade. India will have to bear this.”

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“The profits that our people earlier earned from exports to the US will no longer be available. We will have to look for alternative markets, and efforts in that direction are already underway,” he said before suddenly wondering aloud and adding, “What if Trump did the same with India what it did with Venezuela?”

“The question now is whether something like what happened in Venezuela might happen in India. Will Trump kidnap our Prime Minister,” Chavan said.

His remarks suggesting a Venezuela-like operation in India prompted a scathing response from the BJP.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that the Congress party has sunk to a new low. He targeted Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of seeking a foreign intervention in the country’s affairs.

Prithviraj Chavan stands firm after ‘India was defeated on Day 1 of Op Sindoor’ remark; BJP demands action

“CONGRESS SINKS TO NEW LOW EVERYDAY…Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan SHAMELESSLY comparing India’s situation with Venezuela. By asking whether “what happened in Venezuela can happen in India”, Congress is making its ANTI INDIA MINDSET clear. Rahul Gandhi wants CHAOS IN BHARAT. Rahul Gandhi is seeking FOREIGN INTERVENTION in Bharat’s affairs!” Bhandari said.

Last week, Chavan triggered a massive controversy after he purportedly questioned the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces during the Operation Sindoor.

He reportedly claimed that India was “defeated” by Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor and that Indian aircrafts were almost grounded as there was a risk of being shot down by Pakistan.

Chavan questions SC decision to deny bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

Earlier today, Chavan also questioned the Supreme Court’s decision to deny bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in 2020 Delhi riots case while commenting on the alleged sloganeering against PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in JNU campus.

“Not granting bail to these people (Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam) is quite a controversial decision. The government has decided not to grant them bail. Incarcerating them for a long time without trial is contrary to what the Supreme Court has been saying. My point is that they should be tried in the court of law,” he said.

The Congress leader said that the entire world is looking at India and the state of democracy and freedom of speech in the country. “I think it doesn’t speak well of the way the Indian state treats the protestors. They should be allowed to defend themselves in the court of law, but they are being held without trial.”