PM Modi addressing a public gathering in Varanasi, defending Operation Sindoor and India's commitment to combating terrorism (TDG Archive)
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress and the opposition harshly for purportedly disparaging the accomplishments of Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a public event in Varanasi, Modi stated, "Mahadev dons his 'Rudra roop' when there is injustice and terror in front of him. Operation Sindoor exposed this side of India to the world. 'Pataal lok' will not spare anyone who tampers with India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong rebuttal against opposition criticism of Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. In Varanasi, Modi simply stated that the operation was an act of revenge against terrorism and a statement of India's resolve. He charged the Congress party and its allies with belittling the operation's successes and undermining the nation's efforts to counter terrorism. Modi's remarks highlight the ongoing political battle surrounding India's defense policies and the opposition standing on national security.
The opposition against Operation Sindoor has opened debates on a broader platform surrounding national security and the defense strategy of the government. Congress leader Praniti Shinde called the operation a "tamasha" while questioning its effectiveness and the government's transparency on its outcomes. Modi presented, in contrast, that the operation was a legitimate and effective response to terrorism, declaring that India would not yield to nuclear blackmail. This debate lays bare the differing perspectives on how India should deal with cross-border terrorism and how political discourse may affect defense policy.
"Congress is continuously insulting the valour of our forces," Modi stated in a speech full of strong language. Operation Sindoor has been referred to as a show (tamaasha) by Congress.
"Is Sindoor ever going to be considered a spectacle?" he continued. Would someone dare refer to Sindoor as a spectacle? It is disgusting to call our warriors' bravery and our sisters' sindoor's retribution a spectacle. (Hamari, behno ke sindoor ke badle ko tamasha kehne ki himmat, yeh nirlajjata.)
Modi stepped up his attacks on the opposition, charging that the Samajwadi Party and the Congress were supporting terrorists and weakening the military. "Congress and SP are crying, seeing the state of terrorists, and Pakistan is crying." The Samajwadi Party, he added, was inquiring as to "why the Pahalgam terrorists were killed on this particular day."
"Should I call and ask them before taking any action?" the PM went on. The question of whether we should wait to murder terrorists should be answered by anyone with common sense. Should we have allowed them to escape?
