‘Why was a businessman present?’: Congress questions PM Modi on Elon Musk’s presence in Trump call. india news
New Delhi: Congress on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, as reports claimed that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was also present during the call.Raising questions on transparency and protocol, the opposition party alleged that PM Modi’s government has not disclosed key details about the talks, especially the alleged involvement of a private businessman during the high-level diplomatic exchange.The controversy stems from a New York Times report, which said Musk was part of a conversation between the two leaders. The call reportedly focused on the emerging Middle East crisis and the need to ensure stability in the region.Reacting to the report, Congress questioned the appropriateness of a private individual being present in the discussions between the two heads of state, especially during a sensitive geopolitical situation.In a post on X, the party raised several pointed questions, asking: “Why was a businessman present when two national leaders were discussing a global crisis? What role did Elon Musk play in this conversation? Was it really about the West Asia crisis, or was there some other ‘business’ agenda?”The party also questioned why the Indian government did not officially disclose Musk’s presence.“Why did the Modi government not disclose Musk’s presence? Why are we learning about this from another country instead of our own government?” Congress said.“Trump spoke to leaders of various countries during the war, but there was no businessman on any of those calls. Why did this happen only with Modi?” The party added.Congress further said that the White House described the talks as “productive” and questioned the nature of the outcome.“White House calls talks productive. But beneficial to whom?”. The party asked.Calling for clarity, the opposition said the country “deserves a clear answer”, especially given the gravity of the situation in West Asia.It also presented the issue as a diplomatic justification, saying the call came at a time when tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran “require diplomatic seriousness, not corporate presence.”According to The New York Times, Elon Musk’s participation in the call was confirmed by US officials, making it an unusual example of a private citizen being part of a high-level diplomatic discussion.The report highlighted that the talks between PM Modi and President Trump took place on March 24 and focused on the West Asia crisis, particularly the need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and secure. In his official statement after the call, PM Modi reiterated India’s position in favor of de-escalation and dialogue. He highlighted that ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is critical to global economic stability and energy security.India is actively engaging with key stakeholders, including Iran and the United States, to safeguard its strategic and economic interests in the region.