Rajnath Singh(L), Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi.
Credit: PTI Photos
New Delhi: The first day of the special discussion on Operation Sindoor and the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, saw Union defence minister Rajnath Singh lock horns with Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi.
While Rajnath said that the security situation was affected by the UPA government’s "inactivity" after the Mumbai terror attacks, Gogoi questioned the home minister, external affairs minister and Rajnath on the security lapses, India’s "increasing isolation" in the global space as well as the alleged felling of five Rafale jets in the war with Pakistan.
Speaking on the security operation against Pakistan, Rajnath said Operation Sindoor has not stopped but it has ceased. “We have extended a hand of peace to Pakistan; if we know how to look for peace, we also know how to speak in the language that they understand,” Rajnath said. “Pakistan had a misconception about us and we removed it.”
While he thanked all political parties for extending unanimous support during the war to the government, Rajnath refused to reveal details on the number of fighter jets that fell, if any. “It does not matter how you pass an exam, but what matters is the result.”
"Some Opposition members asked how many of our aircraft were shot down. I feel their question does not adequately represent our national sentiments. They have not asked how many enemy aircraft our armed forces shot down,” Singh said.
Rajnath said that the policy of military intervention adopted by the Modi government in 2016 in Uri, 2019 in Balakot and in 2025 in Operation Sindoor should have been adopted by the previous government. “In his book Coalition Years, Pranab Mukherjee writes that after the Mumbai terror attacks, a heated debate took place in the Cabinet on military intervention. Pranab da writes that, ‘I rejected it’,” Rajnath said. “Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that India will not remain silent if anyone harms its citizens.”
The debate saw some tough questions being asked by the Opposition, whose charge was spearheaded by Gogoi. In his speech, Gogoi said that the Opposition and people of India are now rightfully seeking answers. “We demand the truth on Pahalgam, the truth on Operation Sindoor, and the truth on ceasefire. How did the terrorists enter India and kill 26 people on Indian soil, what was the security apparatus doing? The home minister was doing a security review just a week before in Jammu and Kashmir,” Gogoi said.
He added that tourists travelled to J&K because the government asked them to, and added that reports suggest that terror targets were reduced from 21 to 9. He further questioned the government’s transparency. “The country wants to know — 100 days have passed since the Pahalgam attack, but this government has not brought the terrorists to justice. When Pakistan was on its knees and we were doing so well, why did we not go ahead and take back PoK?” Gogoi asked.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh, leader of BJP ally Janata Dal (United), carried out a retort to Gogoi. “Nine terrorist camps were destroyed in Operation Sindoor, even when we ensured that not a single Pakistani citizen was injured. All the terrorists leaders Masood Azhar Sahib, Hafiz Saeed were crying that our people have been killed. Gogoi ji, you do politics for votes, while Modi ji does politics for the country,” Singh said.
TDP leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said that India has sent a strong message. “The message is clear – India will wait but India will never forget.”
BJP MP Baijayant Panda said that previous Congress governments “appeased” Pakistan instead of taking military actions. “We have been asked about the ceasefire; military operation was halted only after a direct request from Pakistan,” Panda said.