New Delhi: US President Donald Trump’s “filthy” air remark Friday (IST) did not go down well with opposition leaders in India, with many taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s friendship with the American leader.
In the climate change segment of the final US presidential debate between Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, the American President said, “Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India — it’s filthy. The air is filthy.”
Opposition leaders, mainly from the Congress, expressed their disappointment at the US President’s remark and questioned Prime Minister Modi and Trump’s bonhomie. Some also took a jibe at Modi’s support for Trump in the upcoming US elections.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal listed the “fruits of friendship” with Trump and the result of last year’s ‘Howdy Modi’ event in the US.
Trump : Fruits of Friendship
1) Questions India’s COVID death toll
2) Says India sends dirt up into the air
India “ air is filthy “3) Called India “ tariff king “
The result of “Howdy Modi “ !
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 23, 2020
Congress Spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill lashed out at BJP’s “foreign policy trump card” and said the friendship between Modi and Trump has only resulted in the American president “berating India”.
BJP’s foreign policy trump card is boasting about “Modi-Trump” friendship & President Trump’s election card seems to be berating India – Not naming China when they trespass & not responding to Trump when he labels India “filthy” is BJP version of Nationalism!! Howdy punctures 56”
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) October 23, 2020
Youth Congress leader Srivatsa Y.B. recalled how Prime Minister Modi had “spent Rs 3.7 crore on flowers” for the ‘Namaste Trump’ rally in Ahmedabad earlier this year.
Modi had spent ₹3.7 crores on flowers & covered up the slums to beautify Trump's route for the 'Namaste Trump' rally in Ahmedabad.
But Trump called India 'filthy' in the Presidential debate today!
Will Modi respond? Be rest assured, Modi won't say a word against his BFF Doland
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) October 23, 2020
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, party national spokesperson Shama Mohamed, Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao and the party’s national social media coordinator Gaurav Pandhi also took to Twitter to question Modi’s foreign policy and how the US President could publicly make such a statement about India.
It’s unfortunate that #USA has a person like @realDonaldTrump as President.
If he thought #India is filthy, why attend #Modi’s #NamasteTrump felicitation in Ahmedabad.We need an American President who uses his power to promote an equitable world. https://t.co/UeuEhFnXz5
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) October 23, 2020
Will the #namastetrump #HowdyModi lot care to comment? https://t.co/yQmXxoWjPU
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) October 23, 2020
Did Modi's friend Trump just called India 'filthy'? How DARE he? Totally unacceptable. Is this why BJP organised 'Namaste Trump' so that he can go back & call our beautiful nation 'filthy'.
Never in the past any leader of any country had the guts to call India 'filthy'.
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) October 23, 2020
US President @realDonaldTrump says India is 'filthy'. Earlier, he had said that India had a 'tremendous problem' with Covid-19. This is how the so called 'good friend' of PM Modi, for whom he spent Rs 100 cr of taxpayer money for a 3 hour roadshow, speaks about India!
— Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) October 23, 2020
Also read: Biden-Harris’ new ad calls for end to hate and discrimination against Indian-Americans
‘What an unfortunate comment to make’
Many others from opposition parties also took to Twitter to lash out at Trump’s comment. Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the US President’s remark was “unfortunate”. She also said, “India stands committed to climate change goals, US chose to withdraw, much against the wishes of many Americans.”
What an unfortunate comment to make about India, @realDonaldTrump .
Reminder: India stands committed to climate change goals, US chose to withdraw, much against the wishes of many Americans. Thank you.— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 23, 2020
Former AAP leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan drew Prime Minister Modi’s attention to Trump’s comment and asked if he still endorsed “abki baar Trump sircar“.
Look at what your pal is saying about you Modiji! Still, 'abki baar Trump Sircar'? https://t.co/iqNLvPgr5g
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) October 23, 2020
Former BJD MP Kalikesh Singh Deo, however, said it was one of the “rare occasions” when he agreed with Trump.
One of the rare occasions that I agree with @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/wHZfhiWMFK
— Kalikesh Singh Deo (@DeoKalikesh) October 23, 2020
Also read: In final debate with Biden, Trump has a lot of catching up to do