Oppn blames HM for Pahalgam security lapse
The Opposition on Monday targeted the government in Lok Sabha on “security lapses” that led to the Pahalgam attack, saying Home Minister Amit Shah must take responsibility for it, and demanded answers on how many Indian jets were downed during Operation Sindoor and why PoK was not taken back.
Participating in a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, Congress MPs questioned the government on the sudden halting of Operation Sindoor and asked “before whom did Prime Minister Narendra Modi surrender”. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi asked when will India take back its Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and also slammed the government over US President Donald Trump claiming “26 times” that he used trade to bring about a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan. Gogoi said the American leader has also claimed five to six jets have been downed. “That is why we want to know from the defence minister, the country has the courage to listen to the truth, he must answer as to how many fighter jets were downed,” Gogoi asked.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda demanded that India should not play cricket with Pakistan at a time when Operation Sindoor is going on.
He also questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Modi on claims made by US President Trump of brokering peace between India and Pakistan.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee questioned the announcement of “ceasefire” and likened it to a player “declaring the innings” on the brink of scoring a century.
NCP (SP) member Supriya Sule said Operation Sindoor cannot be called a success until the terrorists responsible for Pahalgam are caught. Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar said the country wanted “Operation Tandoor” after the Pahalgam terror attack to roast the terrorist responsible for it, and not Operation Sindoor.
Ops Sindoor could resume: Govt
The government on Monday asserted that it can go to any extent to uproot terrorism and warned that Operation Sindoor launched to target terror sites in Pakistan is on pause as the armed forces achieved the desired objectives, but could resume in case of any misadventure by Islamabad.
Initiating the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Singh said Pakistan used missiles, drones, rockets, including long-range rockets, among others, to target airports, military establishments and military cantonments. “However, they failed to cause any damage to any establishment,” he said.
Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also dismissed the claims made by the Congress and other opposition parties linking the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan to alleged mediation attempts by US President Donald Trump, who linked it to a trade deal.
Home Minister Shah and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi are expected to be among the key speakers on Tuesday. There are indications that Prime Minister Modi will be the final speaker in the debate for which 16 hours have been allocated.