At a time when the nation is gripped by the pride and emotional weight of Operation Sindoor—a successful military evacuation mission that rescued stranded Indian nationals from a conflict zone—the Congress party has once again chosen to play the role of the contrarian, seemingly more interested in undermining the government than in aligning with national sentiment. In doing so, it is not merely criticizing the Modi government, but inadvertently alienating itself from the very people it claims to represent.
Operation Sindoor, executed with surgical precision by the Indian Air Force, stands as a testament to India’s growing stature on the global stage. It reflects the preparedness, professionalism, and humanitarian commitment of the Indian armed forces. Naturally, it evoked a wave of public pride across the nation.
But rather than applauding the success, senior Congress leaders—most notably Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy—have chosen this moment to question the government, asking how many Rafale fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan, drawing a bizarre and jarring parallel with past military engagements. This rhetorical provocation is not just poorly timed; it is politically tone-deaf and strategically self-destructive.
Worse still, this line of questioning isn’t just demoralizing to our armed forces—it plays right into the hands of India’s adversaries. At a time when even Pakistan’s own Prime Minister has publicly admitted the damage inflicted by India using BrahMos missiles, it is shocking that the Congress seems more eager to question Indian military capability than Pakistan itself. When Pakistan grudgingly acknowledges India’s effectiveness, Congress choosing to cast doubt amounts to echoing enemy propaganda rather than amplifying national pride.
This rhetoric is not only disgraceful—it is dangerous.
The Congress, knowingly or not, has once again crossed the line between political opposition and national disservice. In questioning a successful military operation and casting doubts on India’s defense preparedness, the party is offering fodder to hostile nations and demoralizing the very soldiers who risk their lives for our safety. It forces a chilling question into the public consciousness: Is the Congress speaking for India, or for Pakistan?
And beyond that lies a more troubling reality: By continuously opposing Narendra Modi, has the Congress now begun to oppose—and even resent—India itself? What began as political rivalry has transformed into an almost compulsive hostility. No matter the event, no matter the outcome, the response is predictable: if Modi is involved, it must be condemned.
This isn’t just poor politics—it’s national sabotage.
Let’s ask a simple question: Do we ever hear opposition leaders in Pakistan openly questioning their own military’s actions in public? Absolutely not. Whatever their internal differences may be, Pakistan’s political class never criticizes its armed forces on global platforms, especially during or after military operations. But in India, the Congress appears to revel in doing just that, repeatedly raising questions that serve no one but our adversaries.
During the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Congress demanded video proof. When that was provided, the narrative shifted. Now, during Operation Sindoor, when every minute of the daring evacuation is captured and public, the party has moved the goalpost again—now asking irrelevant questions about Rafale jets and resurrecting old allegations. It’s a pattern of never being satisfied, because satisfaction would mean giving credit where it’s due—and that seems unacceptable to them.
Rahul Gandhi, for his part, has become synonymous with this sort of political misjudgment. Over the past decade, he has often chosen the wrong battlefields—raising questions not where the public seeks answers, but where it seeks unity. Be it the surgical strikes, Balakot, or now Operation Sindoor, his instinct appears to be to oppose, regardless of the national mood.
On top of this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh made a shockingly irresponsible remark, likening the parliamentary delegation engaged in India’s outreach during Operation Sindoor to “terrorists roaming in the open.” This is not just a grossly offensive comparison—it is an unforgivable insult to elected Members of Parliament representing the will of the people, as well as to the brave men and women executing the operation on the ground. To equate a legitimate diplomatic and humanitarian mission with terrorism is beyond the pale. It trivializes real security threats and reflects an alarming breakdown in political judgment. If this is the tone Congress chooses to set on matters of national importance, one must wonder whether they have lost all sense of proportion, decorum, and responsibility.
This is not to say that opposition parties should become cheerleaders of the government. A vibrant democracy demands scrutiny, accountability, and tough questions. But timing and tone matter. There is a marked difference between legitimate criticism and habitual naysaying. The Congress has increasingly chosen the latter, and it has cost them not just credibility, but also political capital.
In contrast, regional leaders—even those ideologically opposed to the BJP—have shown greater political maturity. Several non-BJP chief ministers and opposition leaders have congratulated the armed forces and lauded the operation, keeping their political differences aside. This form of statesmanship is what the Congress, especially under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, seems increasingly incapable of.
Revanth Reddy’s comments are particularly perplexing, given that he leads a southern state that has historically prided itself on its contribution to the armed forces. Instead of using this opportunity to showcase national unity and state solidarity, the Telangana CM opted for a petty jab that felt more like a social media troll than a chief minister.
For a party that has helmed the nation through wars, crises, and reforms in the past, the Congress under its current leadership seems bereft of direction and strategic vision. By attacking a successful military mission that brought Indians home safely, it is not just being politically naive—it is being ethically shortsighted.
What the Congress fails to grasp is that the Indian electorate, while willing to entertain legitimate criticism of governance, is fiercely protective of national pride and military achievement. In attempting to score points against Modi, it is Rahul Gandhi and company who have ended up scoring an own goal.
India does not need a pliant opposition. It needs a wise and responsible one. Unfortunately, the Congress continues to mistake provocation for politics and outrage for strategy.
In matters of national security, there can be no room for ambiguity. And when the world sees India rising to defend its citizens and project power responsibly, the last thing the country needs is one of its oldest political parties echoing enemy narratives, demoralizing soldiers, and questioning victories.
If there’s one lesson Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy must urgently learn, it is this: criticizing Modi should not come at the cost of undermining India. And if your hatred for one man makes you sound like you’re siding with the enemy, it’s not Modi who loses—it’s the nation. And ultimately, it’s you who will be rejected by the people.
