Are Senior Officers of the Indian Armed Forces Allegedly Supporting Pakistan?

New Delhi, July 29 (NationPress) Gaurav Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, vehemently criticized Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, questioning if the senior-most officials of the Indian Armed Forces, who have publicly acknowledged challenges during Operation Sindoor, are now perceived as "pro-Pakistan".

These comments arise amidst a heated and politically charged debate in Parliament, where the Opposition has accused the Modi government of security failures that resulted in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, demanding full accountability regarding the military's cross-border operations under Operation Sindoor.

In a pointed statement to IANS, Gogoi remarked, "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh needs to pay attention to the statements from India’s top defence officers. If our Chief of Defence Staff is making such assertions, does that imply the top officer is siding with Pakistan? Is Lt Gen Rahul Singh endorsing Pakistan? Is India’s defence attaché in Indonesia, Group Captain Shiv Kumar, also in support of Pakistan?"

He further questioned, "Are our soldiers and pilots, who might have similar doubts, on Pakistan's side as well? Rajnath Singh must provide clarity on this."

Gogoi had previously expressed these concerns during the Operation Sindoor debate in Lok Sabha on Monday, referencing public comments made by CDS General Anil Chauhan regarding the downing of fighter jets.

In a recent interview, Chauhan stated: "The critical factor is not the jet being downed but the reasons behind their downing."

Gogoi contended that such statements highlight strategic failures the government is hesitant to admit.

He also criticized the Modi administration for not holding Union Home Minister Amit Shah accountable for the infiltration of terrorists into Baisaran valley in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 soldiers. "The government cannot evade responsibility by hiding behind the Lieutenant Governor. The accountability lies with the Centre," he stated.

Gogoi further quoted remarks from Lieutenant General Rahul R. Singh, who at a FICCI event reportedly described the operation as a "two-front war with active support from China." Despite this, Gogoi asserted that the government has failed to directly address the threat from China.

He also mentioned Group Captain Shiv Kumar's comments from Indonesia, who indicated that India faced losses due to "restrictions on attacking military installations across the border."

Gogoi questioned, "Why was the military instructed to exercise restraint? Why did our fighter jets need to engage from long distances when they are deemed among the best in the world?"

He urged the government to cease its reliance on rhetoric and provide the nation with a "clear understanding" of the circumstances and military operations.