📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rajya Sabha, Secretariat
Politics
Rajasthan BJP Chief Rathore Says He Will Stand with Pakistan in US War, Sparks Backlash
✍️ Livemint
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 09:32 PM
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Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Rathore said he would stand with Pakistan if India went to war with the United States, a statement that drew criticism from opposition parties.
Madan Rathore, the chief of the Rajasthan unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, made the remark during a public gathering in the state, stating that "in the event of a war between India and the United States, we will stand with Pakistan." The comment was delivered in a context that highlighted the party’s stance on foreign policy.
The statement was interpreted by many as a direct challenge to India’s strategic partnership with the United States, especially in light of recent geopolitical tensions in the region. Rathore’s words were seen as a bold assertion of the party’s willingness to support Pakistan in a hypothetical conflict scenario.
Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, swiftly condemned the remark. They accused Rathore of undermining national security and questioned the appropriateness of a political leader making such a statement. The backlash was amplified on social media and in parliamentary debates.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the role of state leaders in foreign policy discourse and the potential diplomatic repercussions of such statements. Analysts warn that remarks of this nature could strain India’s relations with the United States and complicate the country’s strategic calculations in the region.
The statement was interpreted by many as a direct challenge to India’s strategic partnership with the United States, especially in light of recent geopolitical tensions in the region. Rathore’s words were seen as a bold assertion of the party’s willingness to support Pakistan in a hypothetical conflict scenario.
Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, swiftly condemned the remark. They accused Rathore of undermining national security and questioned the appropriateness of a political leader making such a statement. The backlash was amplified on social media and in parliamentary debates.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the role of state leaders in foreign policy discourse and the potential diplomatic repercussions of such statements. Analysts warn that remarks of this nature could strain India’s relations with the United States and complicate the country’s strategic calculations in the region.