The debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament took an unusual turn when Congress leader Deepender Hooda invoked American fast food giant McDonald’s, demanding that the Indian government confront US President Donald Trump over his repeated claims of brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan—or “shut down McDonald’s in India.”
Trump has repeatedly stated that he mediated a ceasefire after India’s retaliatory strikes on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. India has consistently asserted that Pakistan reached out for peace and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has dismissed Trump’s version, rejecting claims that the US used trade talks as leverage.
Speaking in Parliament, Hooda said,
“The US must decide what kind of relationship it wants with India. India is a world power. The US cannot equate India with Pakistan. If the US President continues to make such false claims, the government must take a stand—or shut down McDonald’s in India. False claims and business cannot go hand in hand.”
The McDonald’s analogy drew laughter across the House, with BJP leaders mocking the remark. A video of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra smirking during Hooda’s comment was shared by BJP with the caption: “Claim so ridiculous even his party leader cracked up.”
Later, defending his comment on social media, Hooda wrote:
“Around the same time I made the McDonald’s remark, Trump again claimed that he leveraged trade to get India and Pakistan to agree on a ceasefire. Love and trade cannot be one-sided. The Indian government has to take a firm stand. The US must be made aware of the Indian market’s power.”
This controversy underscores the political tensions surrounding Trump’s ceasefire claims and the pressure on the government to respond strongly to protect India’s global position.
