Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 28: A heated exchange unfolded in Parliament on Monday as the Centre and the Opposition locked horns during a marathon debate on Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam.
Leading the Opposition charge was Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, who cast doubts over the operation’s success and strategic clarity. "They claimed to have hit terrorist camps inside Pakistan. But now they say the operation is incomplete because Pakistan might strike again. How then was it a success?" questioned Gogoi, intensifying the Opposition's scrutiny.
He went a step further, targeting the government’s stand on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "If the intention wasn’t war or territorial gain, when will we take back PoK? If not today, then when?" he asked, drawing sharp reactions from the Treasury benches.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who opened the debate, dismissed claims that India halted the operation under international pressure. "The operation achieved all political and military objectives. Suggestions that we acted under pressure are completely baseless," he declared.
Citing details from the battlefield, Singh revealed that it was Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who requested a halt on May 10. "It was only after this request that our Armed Forces chose to stop," he said.
Gogoi also reignited concerns about India’s military assets, seeking clarity on losses during the operation. "We have just 35 Rafale jets. If some were lost, that’s a significant blow. Why is the government not answering this?".
Singh hit back sharply, stating such questions "do not reflect national sentiments". “Why don’t they ask how many enemy aircraft we downed? Their priorities seem misplaced,” he remarked, drawing cheers from the BJP benches.
On May 7, India launched a precise, 25-minute strike across terror launchpads in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 male civilians were gunned down by terrorists linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot. The operation, codenamed Sindoor, symbolised justice for the widows of the slain victims.
Although India and Pakistan agreed to ceasefire on May 10, the truce was quickly violated by Pakistani forces. The Indian Army responded with a strong warning, promising “fierce retaliation” to any future breach.
The debate coincided with Operation Mahadev, another major anti-terror strike near Srinagar, where security forces gunned down three militants—two of whom were directly linked to the Pahalgam attack.
As Parliament continues to deliberate, tensions between political sides show no signs of easing, with national security now firmly at the centre of the political storm.