Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday, 1 July challenged the renewed political controversy over the number of soldiers who died during Operation Sindoor, pointing to earlier official tributes by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force as evidence that the sacrifices of six personnel had already been publicly acknowledged.

What Sparked the Debate

The dispute resurfaced after the names of six martyred jawans were inscribed at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Monday, days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had told Parliament that no soldiers were killed during the operation. Critics argued the inscription directly contradicted that statement, reigniting a charged political row over whether the government had downplayed the soldiers' ultimate sacrifice.

The Ministry of Defence firmly rejected these allegations as factually incorrect, clarifying that Singh's remark had been taken out of context. According to the Ministry, he was specifically countering a false, viral claim that Indian Air Force pilots had been shot down — not denying ground casualties altogether.

Chaturvedi's X Post and Her Argument

In a post on X, Chaturvedi wrote: 'Am I the only one who recalls that during Op Sindoor, the then-DGMO, LG Rajeev Ghai, at an official Press briefing, had paid tribute to the 5 personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the Operation. Also recall Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, having personally visited Sergeant Kumar's family to pay his respects. And now, the National War Memorial has their names etched in stone as a tribute for their ultimate sacrifice. Where's the confusion?'

She referred to General Rajiv Ghai, then serving as Lieutenant General and Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), who had paid solemn tribute to the fallen during an official press conference on 11 May 2025. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and his wife Sarita Singh had also personally visited the family of the late Sergeant Surendra Kumar, who died during the operation.

Congress Demands Rajnath Singh's Resignation

Congress, an ally of Shiv Sena (UBT) in the INDIA Bloc, trained its guns at the Centre, accusing the Defence Minister of glossing over the supreme sacrifice of soldiers and failing to give martyrs the honour they deserved. The party accused the Centre of deliberately misleading Parliament and formally demanded Rajnath Singh's resignation.

The Ministry of Defence pushed back, warning against politicising sensitive military matters and maintaining that the statement had been misrepresented.

The Six Soldiers Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice

The six brave personnel martyred in Operation Sindoor are: Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Murali Naik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh, and Indian Air Force Sergeant Surendra Kumar. Five belonged to the Indian Army and one to the Indian Air Force. Their names are now permanently inscribed at the National War Memorial to ensure their sacrifice endures in national memory.

What Happens Next

The political standoff is unlikely to ease quickly, with the INDIA Bloc continuing to press for accountability and the government holding firm on its contextual defence of Singh's remarks. The inscription at the War Memorial, however, has effectively settled the factual question of recognition — leaving the political dispute centred on intent and parliamentary conduct.