New Delhi: A political storm broke out on Monday after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of informing Pakistan ahead of military strikes during Operation Sindoor. Calling it a “crime,” Gandhi claimed India lost assets because of this move, and demanded answers from the Centre.
Rahul Gandhi cited a remark by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, suggesting that India had warned Pakistan before the strike began. “How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime,” Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
This follows a video shared by Gandhi on May 17, where Jaishankar appeared to say that India had given a warning to Pakistan. Gandhi claimed it was proof that New Delhi had alerted Pakistan before the operation.
Congress Doubles Down
Congress leader Pawan Khera backed Gandhi, calling the BJP “Sindoor ka Saudagar” — a sharp political jibe. He played the video of Jaishankar’s remark at a press conference and said, “Sorry, but this is not diplomacy. This is spying.”
Khera also said that India failed to eliminate top terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar because the Pakistani army was allegedly tipped off. “We are concerned about the safety of our soldiers,” he added.
Government Responds
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) quickly issued a statement rejecting the Congress leader’s claims. The MEA said Rahul Gandhi had made an “utter misrepresentation of facts.”
The ministry clarified that Jaishankar had said India warned Pakistan during the early phase of Operation Sindoor, not before it began. “This is being falsely represented as being before the commencement,” the MEA said.
Earlier, the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit had flagged similar claims as misleading.
BJP Hits Back
Several BJP leaders slammed Gandhi’s statements. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “Rahul Gandhi continues to disrespect the Armed Forces despite IAF and MEA confirming there were no asset losses.”
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya called Gandhi’s post “sinister,” accusing him of distorting facts. “India knows who he truly speaks for,” Malviya wrote on X.
BJP leader Aparna Yadav also lashed out, questioning the Congress party’s loyalty. “I am doubting if Congress is even a party of this country or not,” she said.
Background on Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was a recent military mission carried out by Indian forces targeting terror camps across the border. The operation was said to be swift and precise, aimed at eliminating threats before they could strike India.
The MEA and the Defence Ministry have both confirmed that the operation was successful and that no Indian aircraft or personnel were lost.
With general elections not far off, the row over Operation Sindoor has reignited fierce political debates over national security. While the government has dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claims as false and damaging, the Congress party continues to push for a detailed explanation.
