Congress chief Rahul Gandhi criticized the Indian government for his management of Operation Sindoor, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of launching the military campaign against Pakistan only to protect his image. He described the operation as ending with an “immediate discount” after only 30 minutes of action.
Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day war in May which left more than 70 people before US President Donald Trump announced a cease-fire between nuclear arms neighbors.
The conflict was launched by an attack in April against Indian tourists illegally occupied Jammu-et-Cachemire (iiojk) which left 26 dead, mainly Hindus. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers without any evidence, an accusation of Islamabad refused.
During a debate in the Indian Parliament on Tuesday, Gandhi castigated the government for the way it led the operation, specifically targeting Modi and the Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh.
“Rajnath Singh said that Operation Sindoor started at 1:05 a.m. and then said it had not lasted 22 minutes.
“The DGMO of India was charged by the government to request a cease-fire at 1:35 a.m. on the night of Operation Sindoor,” added Gandhi. He accused the Indian government of a lack of political will, arguing that the request for ceasefire represented an “immediate surrender in 30 minutes”.
He also said that the objective of the operation was to protect the image of the Prime Minister. “The Prime Minister has the blood of the People of Pahalgam on his hands. The purpose of the exercise was to ensure that he used the Air Force to protect his image,” said Gandhi.
The chief of the congress also criticized Modi for denying Trump’s repeated statements that he had managed a cease-fire in the media. “If he lies, the Prime Minister should say in his speech that Donald Trump is. If he has the courage, like Indira Gandhi, he should say:” Donald Trump, you are a liar “,” he asked.
Gandhi stressed that no country has condemned Pakistan after Pahalgam events, despite a large condemnation of terrorism. “All countries have condemned terrorism. Absolutely, 100% correct. But after Pahalgam, no country has condemned Pakistan. Not one country has condemned Pakistan,” he said.
The head of the Congress also criticized the Indian government for saying that it had dissuaded Pakistan, stressing that the Pakistani army chief Asim is lunch with the President of the United States.
“Our Prime Minister cannot go there. Did the Prime Minister say anything? Trump invites the general to bring to his office. While these people run to the world saying in Pakistan supports terrorism, the United States lunch with the man responsible for Pahalgam and organize means of fighting terrorism,” he added.
Gandhi has also criticized the government’s position on military collaboration, citing the meeting of central and southern defense leaders held in Pakistan, which included military leaders from the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan.
He also made fun of the government’s response to terrorism, referring to a statement to a declaration made at the end of the Sindoor operation that any act of terrorism would be considered as an act of war. “What this declaration says is that all that a terrorist has to make is an attack, and India will be at war. You have given terrorists the power to trigger a war. You have overthrown upside down,” he said.
The head of the Congress also called into question the government’s foreign policy, accusing him of having undermined the main objective of India of separating Pakistan and China. “The biggest foreign policy challenge has been to separate Pakistan and China, and now China and Pakistan have merged militarily,” he said.
In conclusion, Gandhi stressed that India could not afford a Prime Minister who does not have the courage to use the army if necessary. “We need a Prime Minister who freezes the army, freezes the Air Force and manages the situation like Indira Gandhi,” he concluded.
The Modi of India denies the mediation of third parties
Meanwhile, the Indian Prime Minister once again denied that every world leader pushed India to stop fighting Pakistan during his recent conflict, after repeated statements by US President Donald Trump that he had negotiated peace.
“No world leader asked us to stop the operation,” Modi said in Parliament during the debate, although he did not name Trump in his speech. He also said that it was Pakistan who begged India to stop fighting after feeling the “warmth of our attacks”.
Trump said on several occasions that he had negotiated peace between rivals, including more recently on Monday. “If I was not there, you would have six great wars right now. India would fight with Pakistan,” said Trump during his visit to Scotland.
