Source HT
NEW DELHI – Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ignited a massive political firestorm after questioning whether US President Donald Trump could “kidnap” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by American forces.
The remarks, made during an interview with news agencies on Tuesday, prompted a scathing retort from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Congress of possessing an “anti-India mindset” and insulting the country’s sovereignty.
The Controversy: “What Next for India?”
Speaking on the escalating trade tensions and the imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods by the Trump administration, Chavan expressed grave concern over the US’s aggressive foreign policy. He linked the economic pressure to the recent military operation in Caracas where US forces seized Maduro.
“Whatever has happened in Venezuela is against the UN Charter. An elected President has been kidnapped… It is a very grave concern that it could happen to any other country tomorrow. Tomorrow it can happen to India,” Chavan told ANI.
He further questioned the trajectory of India-US relations under the current trade strain:
“The question then is: what next? Will something like what happened in Venezuela happen in India? Will Mr. Trump kidnap our Prime Minister?”
Chavan also criticized the Modi government’s “silence” on the Venezuela crisis, suggesting that India is “scared of Americans” and failing to take a moral stand unlike Russia or China.
BJP’s Sharp Retort: “A New Low”
The BJP was quick to condemn the statements, with national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari leading the charge. Sharing a clip of the interview on X (formerly Twitter), Bhandari slammed the Congress leader for what he termed a shameful comparison.
“Anti-India Mindset“: Bhandari stated that comparing India—the world’s largest democracy and a rising global power—to Venezuela shows the Congress party’s desperation and lack of faith in the nation.
“Foreign Intervention“: The BJP alleged that such remarks suggest the opposition is “seeking foreign intervention” in Bharat’s internal affairs.
“Humiliating the Nation”: Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid also weighed in, asking why Chavan’s “head wouldn’t hang in shame” for suggesting such a scenario for his own country.
Context: Trade War and Global Turmoil
The political spat comes at a time of heightened anxiety regarding India-US trade. Chavan argued that the 50% tariffs effectively act as a “direct ban,” making trade commercially impossible and forcing India to scramble for alternative markets.
The Congress party has recently stepped up its criticism of PM Modi’s “personal chemistry” with President Trump, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge previously remarking that the Prime Minister appeared to be under the “control” of the US administration following reports of India yielding to US demands on Russian oil imports.
