‘Will Trump Kidnap Our PM?’: Chavan’s Venezuela Remark Draws Sharp BJP Retort

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday strongly objected to Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he drew a comparison with developments in Venezuela, accusing the Opposition party of displaying an “anti-India mindset” and sinking to a “new low every day”.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari led the attack, taking to X to criticise the former Maharashtra chief minister. “Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan shamelessly comparing India’s situation with Venezuela. By asking whether ‘what happened in Venezuela can happen in India’, Congress is making its ANTI INDIA mindset clear,” Bhandari wrote.

The BJP’s reaction came after Chavan, while commenting on US tariffs on India, reportedly raised the Venezuela example and questioned whether a similar situation could unfold in India. The Congress leader was apparently referring to last week’s US operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured by American forces.

In a video clip shared by Bhandari and other BJP leaders, Chavan is heard saying, “The question now remains whether something like what happened in Venezuela would happen in India. Will Mr Trump kidnap our prime minister?”

Neither Chavan nor the Congress party has issued a response to the remarks or the BJP’s criticism so far.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S P Vaid also weighed in, condemning Chavan’s comments and questioning his intent. In a video message posted on X, Vaid said the remarks reflected deep frustration among some Congress leaders. “Why didn’t your head hang in shame before saying this? Are you not a countryman?” he asked. Calling the US action against Venezuela humiliating, Vaid added, “You want this to happen with your country? You hate Modi ji so much?”

Last Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flown him out of the country following a series of airstrikes. Maduro is set to face trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges.

The US move to detain a sitting president drew condemnation from several countries, including India. New Delhi expressed “deep concern” over the US action in Venezuela and urged all parties to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue to ensure stability in the region.