A special session in Parliament on Operation Sindoor witnessed intense political drama, with fiery speeches, heated exchanges, and a sharp spotlight on national security and political responsibility. The discussion, meant to deliberate on India’s security strategy following the Pahalgam attack, turned into a full-blown confrontation between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing critique of the government’s handling of national security, alleging a pattern of negligence and accusing the Centre of weaponising patriotism for political gain. In a fierce address to the Lok Sabha, he said, “When our soldiers are dying, this government chooses silence. You cannot drape failure in the tricolour and call it nationalism.”
Responding to the attack, Prime Minister Modi delivered a strong rebuttal, reaffirming the government’s commitment to national defence. “Operation Sindoor is a decisive message to those who dare to attack India,” Modi declared. He criticised the Opposition for attempting to politicise national security, adding, “This is not a time for blame games but for unity.” Modi also appreciated foreign minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh’s eminent part during the whole process.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi echoed her brother’s concerns, stating, “Operation Sindoor is being used to deflect from real issues. There has been a clear lapse in intelligence and accountability must be ensured.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh firmly defended Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, asserting that the mission successfully targeted Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure and was paused only after meeting its objectives, not halted due to US pressure. He clarified that Pakistan’s DGMO had requested a ceasefire on May 10, leading to a formal end to operations by May 12.
However, Opposition leaders, particularly Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi, criticised the government for allegedly yielding to external influence and questioned the transparency of its success claims. Gogoi demanded clarity on whether any Indian jets were downed and called for Home Minister Amit Shah to be held accountable for the Pahalgam attack.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking in the Lok Sabha, described India's military response to the Pahalgam attack as a 'new normal' in tackling cross-border terrorism. Outlining a five-point strategy, he emphasised a firm response to terror, rejection of nuclear blackmail. He also urged national unity in the fight against terrorism, citing the impact of parliamentary delegations engaging globally to explain Operation Sindoor and India's anti-terror stance.
