New Delhi: The Congress Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, saying the PM’s account of his talk with his “good friend” was eloquent in its silence on key issues “agitating” the people of India on India-US relations.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asked whether the prime minister conveyed the nation’s concerns about the way the US has unfairly targeted India for buying oil from Russia and for its economic relationship with Iran.
“The PM’s account of his conversation earlier in the evening with his good friend Donaldbhai was eloquent in its silence on key issues agitating the people of India on India-US relations,” Ramesh said on X.
The Congress leader said three major questions remained unaddressed, including whether Modi conveyed India’s concerns over the US unfairly targeting India for buying Russian oil and for its economic relationship with Iran.
The PM’s account of his conversation earlier this evening with his good friend Donaldbhai is eloquent by its silence on key issues agitating the people of India on India-US relations.
Three big questions remain unaddressed.
1. Did the PM convey the nation’s concerns at the…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 30, 2026
The Congress leader also asked whether the prime minister raised India’s concerns over the US targeting Indian professionals and students on visa issues.
His third question was whether Modi expressed India’s concerns over the US President and others embracing Pakistan even though it had orchestrated the April 22, 2025, terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
“The PM keeps appeasing his good friend, UPI being a recent example. That is perhaps what is meant by his saying that he had a productive conversation,” the Congress leader said.
Ramesh’s remarks came after Modi had a telephonic conversation with Trump to evaluate progress in bilateral ties, and the discussion covered major areas of mutual interest and strategic cooperation, including trade, defence and energy.
The two leaders spoke against the backdrop of heightened trade friction following the enactment of the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’, which authorises tariffs of up to 100 per cent on nations purchasing Russian oil and gas, including India and China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was also in the United States from September 23 to 25 and had bilateral talks with Trump.
Modi and Trump exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed ongoing efforts to promote global peace and security, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and agreed to maintain close engagement to deepen cooperation for the benefit of the people of both countries, the statement said.
“The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas of mutual interest,” the statement said.
Modi said in a post on X that he had a productive conversation with Trump.
“We reviewed our bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas. We agreed to maintain close engagement to take our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership forward,” he said.
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