Did Rahul Gandhi Just Expose Government's Weakness in Op Sindoor?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi's Critique: The Leader of Opposition highlights government failures in military operations.
- Political Will: Gandhi stresses the importance of strong political resolve in military strategy.
- Historical Comparisons: He draws parallels with the effective military actions of the past.
- Military Accountability: Senior officials indicate operational constraints influenced tactical losses.
- Government's Image: Claims are made regarding the government's use of military operations for political gain.
New Delhi, July 29 (NationPress) Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday unleashed a fierce critique against the government regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that it has restricted the Indian Armed Forces, which he blamed for the ‘tactical losses’ during Operation Sindoor.
During the Op Sindoor discussion in Lok Sabha, the Congress MP lamented the government's lack of political will to hold the Pahalgam attackers accountable and emphasized the need to teach the enemy a lesson. He drew parallels with the 1971 war, during which the previous government effectively split Pakistan.
“Yesterday, the Defence Minister likened the 1971 war to Operation Sindoor. I must emphasize that this government’s determination is nowhere near what the Congress leadership exhibited back then,” he stated.
LoP Rahul Gandhi asserted that political will and operational freedom are crucial for victory in any conflict, and he accused the current administration of lacking both.
Referencing the political resolve shown during Indira Gandhi’s tenure, he recalled that when General Manekshaw requested it six times, she granted that freedom, leading to the successful division of Pakistan.
He further criticized the government for agreeing to a ‘ceasefire’ just moments after the armed forces struck terror bases in Pakistan, questioning if this was not indicative of weak political will.
“I was astonished to hear Rajnath Singh announce that Operation Sindoor commenced at 1:05 AM and concluded in 22 minutes. Then at 1:35 AM, the Indian government informed Pakistan that we targeted non-military sites and sought to avoid escalation,” LoP Rahul Gandhi remarked in the House.
The Congress leader also cited senior military officials' admissions of losses during Operation Sindoor, attributing the failures, including the downing of jets, to the government's constraints on military action.
“Capt Shiv Kumar, Defence Attache in Indonesia, acknowledged that we did lose aircraft, and this was solely due to restrictions imposed by political leadership to refrain from attacking military targets and installations,” he added, also mentioning tactical losses acknowledged by CDS Anil Chauhan.
Intensifying his rhetoric, LoP Rahul Gandhi commended the Armed Forces but held the government accountable for the ‘losses and setbacks’ experienced during the operation.
In a direct confrontation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he challenged him to denounce the US President’s false claims about facilitating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, asserting that Operation Sindoor was executed to enhance Modi's public image amid a series of devastating terror attacks in Pahalgam.
“The US President has taken credit for the truce for the 29th time. If the Prime Minister possesses the courage of Indira Gandhi, he should declare in the House that Trump is a liar,” concluded the Congress leader.