AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, wrote an open letter on X to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to raise a 'strong protest and anger' over the killing of three Indian nationals during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in France. Kejriwal accused the Prime Minister of failing to publicly respond to the deaths — neither posting on social media nor offering prayers for the victims.

Context

Addressing Modi directly as 'Dear Modi ji', Kejriwal wrote on behalf of the 'People of India,' calling on the Prime Minister to 'show courage to stand up to Trump.' He alleged that Modi 'did not post a single tweet, nor did he pray for the departed souls,' framing the silence as a failure of leadership. The post was written in English and addressed to the Prime Minister at the moment of a high-level bilateral engagement in France.

Policy Backdrop

India and the United States have deepened their strategic partnership significantly since 2014, with multiple summits, 2+2 ministerial dialogues, and defence and trade agreements shaping the relationship. India's approach to the partnership has historically been calibrated — balancing strategic interests with the management of sensitive bilateral issues. Opposition leaders have repeatedly questioned whether this calibration comes at the cost of assertiveness on matters directly affecting Indian citizens.

The protection of Indian nationals abroad is a consular and diplomatic obligation that falls under the Ministry of External Affairs. Opposition figures have framed the government's public response — or absence of one — to such incidents as a barometer of diplomatic spine, particularly when the counterpart is a major power like the United States.

Stakeholders and Impact

The post speaks directly to the families of the three Indians killed, and to the broader Indian diaspora and citizens who watch how their government responds to the deaths of nationals on foreign soil. For the ruling dispensation, the charge carries political weight: any perceived softness toward a powerful ally during a bilateral summit becomes a ready opposition talking point in parliament and on the campaign trail.

Kejriwal's intervention — framed as a voice of 'People of India' — is consistent with a broader pattern where opposition parties use moments of India-US engagement to test the government's public posture on sovereignty and citizen protection. The timing, coinciding with the Modi-Trump meeting in France, amplifies the pressure.

What's Next

All eyes are now on any joint statement or remarks emerging from the Modi-Trump bilateral in France, and whether the Prime Minister or the Ministry of External Affairs addresses the killing of the three Indians either publicly or through diplomatic channels. Parliamentary questions on consular protection and the government's response to this specific incident are likely to follow when the session resumes. Kejriwal's post ensures the issue will remain in the political conversation regardless of what is said — or left unsaid — in France.