New Delhi: The Congress termed US President Donald Trump’s ‘library’ jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi “completely unacceptable.” The party has also asked the government to remind America of India’s assistance to Afghanistan.

“The tenor and tone of the US president describing the Prime Minister of India is not in good taste and is completely unacceptable,” said senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel.

“Under Dr. Manmohan Singh, India helped build Afghan National Assembly. From catering to humanitarian needs to strategic economic partnership, we are one with our Afghani brothers and sisters,” he added.

Trump took a jibe at Modi for funding a library in Afghanistan, stating that it was of no use in Afghanistan, which is a war-torn country. This is the first time the US administration has publicly mocked India’s developmental works in the strife-torn country.

Trump said, “I could give you an example where I get along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi. But he is constantly telling me, he built a library in Afghanistan. Library! That’s like five hours of what we spend (in Afghanistan).”

President Trump asked India, Russia, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to take responsibility for the security of Afghanistan, while speaking in his first Cabinet meeting of the year on Wednesday, January 2. Trump criticised India and others for not doing enough for the land-locked nation’s security.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that Trump’s derisive comment is a stinging indictment of the BJP government’s failure to convince the US of India’s bonafide credentials in Afghanistan.

Tharoor tweeted, “We spent USD 3 billion (our largest aid programme anywhere) but US doesn’t know.”

“We brought 24/7 electricity to Kabul, built the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, restored schools and hospitals, built the Selma Dam and the National parliament. And Modi tells Trump about a library? What a travesty and injustice. We should be proud of our role in Afghanistan and teach US about it,” he said.