Lok Sabha Witnesses Heated Debate on Operation Sindoor as Gaurav Gogoi Challenges Rajnath

NEW DELHI-  The Lok Sabha was the stage for a fiery exchange today during a special debate on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi led the opposition’s charge, sharply questioning Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on security lapses and unanswered questions surrounding the attack, while Singh defended the government’s decisive military action.

The debate, part of the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, centered on Operation Sindoor, a 22-minute cross-border counter-terror operation targeting over 100 terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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Rajnath Singh initiated the discussion, lauding the armed forces for their “decisive strength” and “moral clarity” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He likened India’s retaliation to Lord Hanuman’s burning of Lanka in the Ramayan, emphasizing that the operation was a response to Pakistan crossing India’s “red lines.”

Singh highlighted the destruction of 11 Pakistani airbases without civilian casualties and stressed that India’s actions were in self-defense, pausing only after achieving pre-decided military and political objectives. “Our government has consistently sought peace with Pakistan, but talks and terror cannot go together,” Singh declared, referencing the 2016 surgical strike, 2019 Balakot air strike, and now Operation Sindoor.

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Gaurav Gogoi, speaking on behalf of the opposition, countered with pointed criticism, accusing the government of evading critical questions about the Pahalgam attack. “Rajnath Singh ji gave a lot of information, but as Defence Minister, he never mentioned how terrorists from Pakistan reached Pahalgam and killed 26 people,” Gogoi said, highlighting the government’s failure to bring the perpetrators to justice 100 days after the attack.

He raised concerns about reported losses of Rafale jets, noting India’s limited fleet of 35 aircraft. “If some Rafale jets were shot down, it is a big loss. We want to know how many fighter jets were downed, not just for the public but for our jawans who are being misled,” Gogoi demanded, referencing Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan’s statement about initial air losses.

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Gogoi further criticized the government for deflecting responsibility, targeting Home Minister Amit Shah for security lapses and dismissing claims that tour operators were to blame. “The Home Minister must be held accountable. The nation deserves to know how five Pakistani terrorists entered our country,” he said, accusing the government of engaging in a “war of information” to obscure the truth.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi for delivering “political speeches” in Bihar instead of visiting Pahalgam post-attack, contrasting this with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to meet affected families.

In response, Singh rebuffed the opposition’s questions about Indian losses, arguing they did not reflect national sentiment. “Some opposition members ask how many of our aircraft were shot down. They have not asked how many enemy aircraft our armed forces shot down,” he retorted, emphasizing that India had successfully destroyed terrorist bases. Union Minister Lalan Singh also weighed in, accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation and following “Goebbels’ policy” of repeating lies to make them seem true. He reiterated the success of Operation Sindoor in showcasing India’s strength.

The Operation Sindoor debate underscored deep divisions between the ruling NDA and the opposition, with the latter demanding transparency on security failures and military losses, while the government highlighted its robust counterterrorism measures. As the discussion continues, it remains a critical moment for addressing national security concerns in Parliament.