Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In the centre of a raging controversy over his remarks on Operation Sindoor, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan remained defiant and refused to apologise even as the BJP-led NDA mounted a major offensive against the veteran Congressman.
Talking to reporters in Pune, Chavan, a former Minister of State for in Prime Minister’s Office during the tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, who is considered close to the Gandhi-family, had claimed that Indian aircraft were shot down on the first day of Operation Sindoor and India was completely defeated.
"On the first day (of Operation Sindoor), we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on May 7, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The
Indian Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew…if any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,,” Chavan said.
As the statement snowballed into a major controversy with the BJP and its allies targeting him, Chavan remained defiant.
"I haven't said anything wrong and there is no question to apologise. Our Constitution has given me a right to question…I would not like to say anything now…I will speak in detail," the senior Congress leader said. Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde that such comments are very unfortunate.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member said: “The way Operation Sindoor began and later stopped is shrouded in suspense. Our forces were advancing, but after President Trump’s ceasefire call, they stopped. This is a betrayal of the whole country. Operation Sindoor remains incomplete, and the revenge for the Pahalgam attack is unfinished.”