The Maharashtra Congress on Friday intensified its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of remaining silent over the controversial “hellhole” remark about India linked to US President Donald Trump.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole strongly condemned the remark and questioned why Prime Minister Modi had not publicly reacted. “First of all, I condemn Trump and his statement. Why is the Prime Minister of the country silent now? He has insulted Mother India. At such a time, why doesn’t he speak up?” Patole said, escalating the opposition’s attack on the Centre.
Patole further asserted that the Congress party would stand behind the Prime Minister if he chose to respond firmly to the remarks. “We call on Narendra Modi to show Trump his place. The Congress party is completely with him, but he will not do it. This shows that the BJP, which is in power today, is tolerating the insult to Mother India,” he alleged.
The controversy erupted after Trump reshared a video featuring conservative commentator Michael Savage, in which countries such as India and China were described as “hellholes” during a discussion on US immigration and birthright citizenship. The clip, originally aired on The Savage Nation, triggered sharp criticism over its derogatory and offensive tone.
India officially objected to the remark, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal calling the comments “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.” He reiterated that such remarks do not reflect the “strong and mutually respectful” ties shared by India and the United States.
Amid the growing backlash, Trump later appeared to soften his position, calling India a “great country” and describing its leadership as “a very good friend.” However, the political controversy has continued to intensify in India, with opposition leaders using the issue to question the Centre’s diplomatic and political response.
What began as an international controversy has now evolved into a domestic political flashpoint, with the Congress accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of tolerating an insult to the nation, while the government insists that India-US relations remain strong and unaffected despite the uproar.
