Rahul Gandhi LoP launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over its handling of Operation Sindoor, accusing it of lacking the political will to allow the armed forces full operational freedom.

While participating in the Lok Sabha debate, Gandhi said the government had “tied the hands” of the military by instructing them not to target Pakistan’s military infrastructure. He cited India’s Defence Attaché in Indonesia, who reportedly said aircraft were lost due to this constraint. “You told our pilots not to take out their air defence systems. That’s not a military mistake. It’s a political one,” he said.

Gandhi took strong exception to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s comparison of Operation Sindoor with the 1971 war, arguing that Indira Gandhi had shown real political resolve back then. “In 1971, despite the threat of the US 7th Fleet, India created a new country—Bangladesh. That’s what political will looks like,” he remarked.

He also questioned the government’s claim of deterrence, pointing out that Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir was hosted for lunch by US President Donald Trump shortly after the ceasefire, which Trump claims to have brokered. “Trump has said 29 times that he negotiated the ceasefire. Why hasn’t the Prime Minister called him a liar?” he asked.

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of sending mixed signals by informing Pakistan at 1:35 am on May 7 that the operation was over and that India had no intention of escalating. “This was nothing short of telegraphing weakness,” he alleged.

Rahul Gandhi concluded by warning that the government’s policy of equating every terror attack with war was playing into the hands of terrorists. “You’ve dismantled the very idea of deterrence,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi LoP launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over its handling of Operation Sindoor, accusing it of lacking the political will to allow the armed forces full operational freedom.

While participating in the Lok Sabha debate, Gandhi said the government had “tied the hands” of the military by instructing them not to target Pakistan’s military infrastructure. He cited India’s Defence Attaché in Indonesia, who reportedly said aircraft were lost due to this constraint. “You told our pilots not to take out their air defence systems. That’s not a military mistake. It’s a political one,” he said.

Gandhi took strong exception to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s comparison of Operation Sindoor with the 1971 war, arguing that Indira Gandhi had shown real political resolve back then. “In 1971, despite the threat of the US 7th Fleet, India created a new country—Bangladesh. That’s what political will looks like,” he remarked.

He also questioned the government’s claim of deterrence, pointing out that Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir was hosted for lunch by US President Donald Trump shortly after the ceasefire, which Trump claims to have brokered. “Trump has said 29 times that he negotiated the ceasefire. Why hasn’t the Prime Minister called him a liar?” he asked.

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of sending mixed signals by informing Pakistan at 1:35 am on May 7 that the operation was over and that India had no intention of escalating. “This was nothing short of telegraphing weakness,” he alleged.

Rahul Gandhi concluded by warning that the government’s policy of equating every terror attack with war was playing into the hands of terrorists. “You’ve dismantled the very idea of deterrence,” he said.