NewzVille Desk
The Congress has demanded the removal of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his statement that no Indian soldier was martyred during Operation Sindoor. Terming the statement an insult to the country’s martyrs, the party also called for a privilege motion against the Defence Minister.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, chairman of the party’s ex-servicemen department Colonel Rohit Chaudhary and retired Wing Commander Anuma Acharya noted that Rajnath Singh made a false statement in Parliament on July 28, 2025, regarding casualties during Operation Sindoor.
They demanded that the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and BJP leadership apologise to the families of the martyrs, the armed forces and the nation for disrespect towards the martyrs. They also reiterated the party’s demand for the complete withdrawal of the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
The Congress leaders questioned why it took 13 months to officially make public the names of soldiers who were martyred during operation, despite the operation having concluded in May 2025. Describing it a compromise with national security, they said a soldier’s martyrdom is a source of inspiration and pride for their regiment, yet the regiments of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation were deprived of that honour. They also sought an explanation for why the martyred soldiers remained unnamed for such a long period.
Col Rohit Chaudhary claimed that ten Indian soldiers were killed during Operation Sindoor.
He alleged that while the names of six personnel were recently added to the National War Memorial website and the India Gate National War Memorial, the names of four other martyrs were still missing.
Referring to the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, the party also targeted the government over the Pahalgam terror attack, calling it a major security failure.
Col Chaudhary said that since Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory, the responsibility for its security rests with the Central Government.
However, he alleged that intelligence and security agencies under the Union Home Ministry failed to act despite receiving inputs.
He added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reviewed the security situation between April 6 and 8, 2025, and that the Prime Minister’s proposed visit on April 17 had been cancelled. Col Chaudhary said that the Pahalgam terror attack occurred just days after Amit Shah’s assertion about no lapse in security.
Criticising the government’s handling of Operation Sindoor, Col Rohit Chaudhary observed that India missed an opportunity to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir due to weak diplomacy.
He further claimed that after the operation, Pakistan received diplomatic and financial gains, including international support, while India’s foreign policy suffered setbacks.
Retired Wing Commander Anuma Acharya criticized the government’s strategic decisions during Operation Sindoor.
She recalled that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had informed Pakistan at the outset that India would target only terrorist infrastructure, thereby reducing the element of surprise available to the Indian Air Force.
Citing statements attributed to Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and India’s Defence Attaché in Jakarta, Captain Shiv Kumar, Acharya remarked that initial strategic mistakes and political pressure on the armed forces resulted in damage to some Indian aircraft. She further observed that military operations were halted following intervention by US President Donald Trump, leading to a ceasefire. She also criticised India’s decision to continue playing cricket with Pakistan, describing it as disrespectful to the martyrs.
The Congress leaders recalled that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party had reached out to the families of personnel killed during Operation Sindoor, conveying their condolences and extending support.
Reiterating the party’s stand on Agnipath, the two leaders said the Congress would abolish the scheme if voted to power, alleging that it creates inequality among soldiers and adversely impacts the morale of the armed forces.
