Congress MP Imran Masood on Wednesday, 26 August sharply reacted to former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan's remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had granted the armed forces complete operational freedom ahead of Operation Sindoor, suggesting that if the retired general was eager to enter politics, he was welcome to do so.

What General Chauhan Said

Retired General Anil Chauhan, speaking at the Vivekananda Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday, revealed that ahead of Operation Sindoor — India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack — Prime Minister Modi had not pressed the armed forces to act immediately. Instead, the Prime Minister left the timing entirely to military commanders while setting conditions to ensure mission success.

'The Prime Minister told us only one thing: That he is not under any kind of political pressure to do it immediately. He said, ‘Do it at your own time, but ensure that there is no reason for failure, either human or because of technical reasons, and we should have evidence of whatever we do.’ And the fourth thing which he told us was complete freedom of action,' General Chauhan said.

Masood's Retort

'Keep singing praises of Modi Ji. Look at what happened to the former Army Chief, General V.K. Singh, who entered politics earlier. If you too are eager to enter politics, go ahead and join,' Masood said in response.

The remark is a pointed reference to General (Retd) V.K. Singh, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after retiring as Army Chief and served as a Union Minister. Masood's comment implies that Chauhan's praise of Modi signals political ambition — an allegation the retired general has not responded to.

Masood on UP Politics and the Ideological Battle

The Congress MP also weighed in on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's claim that the main contest in Uttar Pradesh elections would be between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP. Masood pushed back, framing the broader national contest as one between two ideologies — one led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the other by Modi.

'This is a battle of ideologies, and it is a battle for change in the country. In this battle for change, some allies will be on this side and some on that side, but the battle lines are crystal clear. This fight is being led under Rahul Gandhi's leadership,' Masood said.

Masood's Remarks on UP Welfare Schemes and Student Suicides

Masood questioned the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet's decision to provide lifelong free bus travel to women aged 60 and above, saying, 'Elderly women over the age of 60 can barely travel on buses.'

On the UP government's approval to purchase 25 lakh tablets for young people, Masood argued that such incentives alone would not address the deeper crisis facing students. He cited a troubling statistic: 'In the last five years, 70 IIT students, the top achievers and rank holders, have died by suicide,' adding that the figure reflected a 'grim reality' in the country.

Masood also accused the government of replacing permanent employment with contractual jobs to avoid implementing reservations — a charge the government has not publicly addressed.

Hijab Ruling and Kangana Ranaut Remarks

Reacting to the Allahabad High Court's ruling that the hijab is not part of a school uniform, Masood said personal choices on clothing should not be viewed through a religious lens. 'Covering one's head is part of our culture,' he said, adding that individuals should be free to decide what they wear.

The Congress MP also responded to BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's criticism of actor Kriti Sanon's Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying Ranaut had 'never looked at what she herself has worn, yet she goes around commenting on others' clothes.'

With the Uttar Pradesh electoral cycle approaching and Operation Sindoor's political reverberations continuing, Masood's remarks signal that the opposition intends to contest both the government's national security narrative and its welfare record on the ground.