New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday launched a strong counterattack against the Opposition in Parliament, accusing it of undermining the success of Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Singh said that while it was the Opposition’s duty to question the government on important national issues, their priorities often appeared misplaced.
“Some Opposition members kept asking how many of our planes were shot down, but never asked how many Pakistani planes we shot down,” Singh said.
He added pointedly, “Ask instead if any of our soldiers were harmed in this operation. The answer is no. Ask whether the masterminds behind the Pahalgam attack were eliminated. The answer is yes.”
Referring to the name of the operation, Singh said, “The terrorists had wiped off the sindoor of our sisters and daughters. Operation Sindoor was launched to bring justice to those families. And it succeeded.”
The defence minister clarified that Operation Sindoor was not about crossing borders or capturing territory, but about destroying terrorist training hubs sponsored by Pakistan and delivering a strong message to those orchestrating a proxy war.
“The aim was to hit terror nurseries and ensure that such attacks never happen again. Our forces were given a free hand, and all objectives were achieved without initiating a war,” he asserted.
Though Singh didn’t name anyone specifically, his remarks were seen as a veiled response to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was present in the House and is expected to lead the Opposition’s debate on the operation.
Gandhi had earlier sparked controversy by sharing a video clip of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, suggesting that the Indian government informed the Pakistani military about Operation Sindoor in advance.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote:
“Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. 1. Who authorised it? 2. How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?”
The video clip, lasting 17 seconds, drew sharp criticism and was later clarified by the Press Information Bureau, which stated that Jaishankar had been misquoted and that the claims were misleading.
Prior to this, Gandhi had only issued a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and the temporary ceasefire announced by then U.S. President Donald Trump.
The government, however, maintains that Operation Sindoor was a strategic and successful mission that sent a clear message to those supporting cross-border terrorism: India will retaliate with precision and strength.
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