Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today strongly defended Operation Sindoor, urging Opposition members to focus on the mission’s success rather than raising questions that undermine national sentiment.
Opening a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister said, “The reason behind why Operation Sindoor was launched has been provided earlier and I have also informed the House today.”
Without naming Rahul Gandhi Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister took aim at repeated queries from Opposition members about the number of Indian aircraft allegedly downed during the operation.
Singh said, “Some Opposition members have been asking how many of our aircraft were shot down? I feel that their question does not adequately represent our national sentiments. Not once have they asked how many enemy aircraft our forces shot down. If questions must be asked, it should be whether India destroyed terrorist bases – and the answer to that is, yes”.
“I want to tell the Opposition that if you have to ask a question, then ask this question: Was Operation Sindoor successful? The answer is, yes.” he asserted.
During the debate in the Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister asked the Opposition firmly, “If you have a question to ask, ask this: Have the terrorists who wiped the sindoor off our sisters and daughters been avenged with by our forces in Operation Sindoor, eliminating their masters? The answer is, yes”.
He reiterated that the nation must stand united in acknowledging the bravery and success of its armed forces, cautioning against politicising military operations for political gains.
The Defence Minister said, “When the goals are big, our focus should not go to relatively small issues. Because by constantly focusing on small issues, attention can shift away from major issues like the country’s security and the honour and morale of soldiers, as is happening with some of our friends in the Opposition”.
Drawing an analogy of a student excelling in an exam after crossing hurdles, he asked MPs, “In any test or exams, the result is what it matters. If a student scores good marks in an exam, then we should focus on those marks. We should not be concerned about whether their pencil broke or their pen was lost during the exam. Ultimately, the result counts, and the result is that during Operation Sindoor, our forces fully achieved the objectives they had set.”
He reiterated that during Operation Sindoor, “Indian forces fully achieved their objectives” while emphasising that the government has “clearly defined its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism on every global platform, and there wont be any compromise on it.”
“I just want to say that now is the time to unite and strengthen our resolve to protect our security, sovereignty, and self-respect. We must remember that our social and political unity is our greatest strength,” the Defence Minister said.
UNI RBE AAB
