New Delhi, July 29: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, accusing it of lacking the political resolve to fully back the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor. He also alleged that the government compromised operational secrecy by revealing sensitive details to Pakistan shortly after the strike began.
Targeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks in Parliament, Gandhi questioned the strategic intent behind the operation.
“Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor began at 1:05 AM, and by 1:35 AM, India had already informed Pakistan that we had struck non-military targets and did not seek escalation,” Gandhi said.
“These are not my words—these are the Defence Minister’s,” he added.
Gandhi claimed that such communication reflected weak political will and placed unnecessary constraints on military action.
“If you want to use the Indian armed forces, you must have 100% political will. You must give them full freedom of operation,” he asserted.
According to Gandhi, the government directed the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to seek a ceasefire within just 30 minutes of the operation’s launch.
“At 1:35 in the night, you told Pakistan exactly what you were going to do—that we will not hit military targets and that we don’t want escalation,” he said.
“You directly told Pakistan your political will—that you do not want to fight,” he alleged.
Criticising the strategic choices made during the operation, Gandhi said, “You attacked Pakistan and simultaneously told them we are not going to hit your army or air defence systems. That is not freedom of manoeuvre; that is surrender.”
He further blamed the loss of Indian aircraft during the operation on the government’s decision not to target Pakistan’s military and air defence infrastructure. Citing a communication from India’s defence attaché in Indonesia, Gandhi claimed that Indian pilots were explicitly instructed not to engage with enemy air defence systems.
