With Prime Minister Narendra Modi not travelling to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit and set to participate virtually, the Congress on Thursday (October 23, 2025) claimed that the reason for his not going there was that the Prime Minister doesn't want to be cornered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said posting messages in praise of President Trump on social media is one thing, but to be seen hobnobbing physically with the man who has claimed 53 times that he stopped Operation Sindoor and also claimed five times that India has promised to stop buying oil from Russia is "far too risky" for the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Modi is set to attend the summit virtually and has spoken with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

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