Why Did Shashi Tharoor Call 'Operation Sindoor' a Brilliantly Chosen Name?

Washington, June 5 (NationPress) The all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, emphasized that Operation Sindoor is a "brilliantly chosen name" during their discussions in the US. He articulated its importance as a part of global initiatives to underscore India's clear and unified stance against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

In a session at the National Press Club in the US on Wednesday (local time), Tharoor remarked that the color of sindoor closely resembles blood, referencing the Hindi phrase "khoon ka badla khoon", indicating that it represents 'sindoor ka badla khoon', or blood avenged for the sins against the sindoor.

When asked about the selection of the name 'Operation Sindoor' for India's counter-terrorism initiative, Tharoor stated, "Operation Sindoor was indeed a brilliantly chosen name. Sindoor, for those unfamiliar, is a vermilion mark traditionally applied to the forehead of married Hindu women. While some non-Hindus may wear it decoratively, it fundamentally signifies marriage and is worn daily thereafter. We were acutely aware of the brutal terrorists who executed men before their families but spared women. One wife, begging to be killed as well, was told to return and inform others of their deeds."

He continued, "This act was horrific. The sindoor had been forcibly wiped from the foreheads of 26 Indian women—one victim was a Christian—in a demonstration of their inhumanity. Our aim was not only to avenge this act but also to convey that the bright vermilion of sindoor, akin to blood, symbolizes our response to their brutality."

Earlier, the delegation met with Bipartisan co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick, along with vice co-chairs Andy Barr and Marc Veasey.

During this meeting, the parliamentary delegation briefed the Caucus members on the cross-border terrorism that India faces and India's unyielding position against terrorism.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US stated, "Bipartisan co-chairs @RoKhanna & @RepMcCormick and vice co-chairs @RepAndyBarr & @RepVeasey of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives met with the visiting Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor today."

They reported that the delegation informed the Caucus members regarding cross-border terrorism in India and India's robust and determined stance in the fight against terror. The Congress members universally condemned the Pahalgam attack and expressed support for India's right to respond with a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. The Caucus members also acknowledged the strong strategic partnership between India and the USA.

The delegation also engaged with the leadership of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington DC, including Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chair Bill Huizenga, and others.

The Indian Embassy in the US remarked, "The all-party Parliamentary delegation led by @ShashiTharoor had a candid & fruitful exchange with @HouseForeign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership. The committee members were briefed on the success of Operation Sindoor in establishing a new normal in India's counter-terrorism efforts. The leadership condemned the Pahalgam attack unequivocally, affirming that India and the US stand united in their relentless fight against terrorism in all its forms."

The all-party delegation arrived in the US after their visit to Brazil, aiming to inform key stakeholders in the US about Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic initiative initiated to counter terrorism and misinformation in the wake of the recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

On April 22, a terrorist attack in the Baisaran valley of Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and injuries to many others, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. In response, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7.

The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the deaths of over 100 terrorists associated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Indian Armed Forces effectively countered subsequent aggression from Pakistan, striking its airbases, and a cessation of hostilities was agreed upon on May 10.