Did Congress Leader Alka Lamba Really Misquote Operation Sindoor?

New Delhi, May 25 (NationPress) The president of All India Mahila Congress, Alka Lamba, faced a significant blunder on Sunday, embarrassing both herself and her party by mistakenly referring to Operation Sindoor as ‘Operation Blue Star’. A video capturing her gaffe, made while criticizing BJP leaders for ‘disrespecting’ the armed forces, including female officers, quickly spread across social media, generating a considerable reaction.

The BJP was swift to seize on this incident, labeling it a calculated move by the Congress party to undermine and belittle the military.

The uproar followed Alka Lamba’s press conference at the Congress office earlier that morning, where she accused the central government and BJP of exploiting the military operation for political advantage, demanding accountability for their outspoken leaders who insulted the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces and the Pahalgam victims.

It is important to note that Operation Sindoor, which commenced on May 7, 2025, involved the Indian Air Force executing precision strikes against terrorist bases in Pakistan. In contrast, Operation Blue Star, conducted in June 1984, was aimed at removing Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Alka Lamba acknowledged her verbal slip on social media, urging the BJP to focus on significant issues instead of diverting attention. She questioned the Modi government's apparent reluctance to convene a special session of Parliament.

“The BJP merely aims to distract from pressing matters. The public is aware of the real questions - Will the BJP apologize for leaders who insulted a courageous army officer like Colonel Sofia Qureshi? When will those who disrespect the families of martyrs be expelled from the party? Will these individuals face legal consequences?” she stated in her post on X, translated loosely.

For the BJP, Alka Lamba’s verbal misstep provided political ammunition amid the ongoing debate surrounding Operation Sindoor. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala asserted that this was not an innocent mistake but rather a deliberate act aimed at undermining the morale of the armed forces.

“This was not merely a slip of the tongue; it reflects a flawed mindset,” he charged in a sharp critique of the Congress party. He also referenced past incidents where Congress leaders, including Charanjit Singh Channi, questioned surgical strikes, Ajay Rai belittled the Rafale fighter jet's capabilities, and Manju Nath dismissed Operation Sindoor as a publicity stunt.

Poonawala claimed that leaders from Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, are on a campaign to demean and undermine the security forces. “Sena ka apman is Congress ki pehchaan” (Insulting the armed forces is the identity of Congress), he declared.