Cong Wants Rajnath’s Resignation Over Operation Sindoor Remarks
FILE PHOTO: A joint press briefing during Operation Sindoor in New Delhi in May 2025
The Congress has accused Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of misleading Parliament by stating that there had been “no harm” caused to Indian soldiers during Operation Sindoor, and demanded his resignation along with a public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference, Congress ex-servicemen department chief Col Rohit Chaudhry (Retd) and Wing Commander Anuma Acharya (Retd) alleged that the government had failed to publicly acknowledge the sacrifice of six military personnel who died during the May 2025 operation.
The controversy comes after the names of six personnel—five from the Indian Army and one from the Indian Air Force—were recently inscribed on a wall at the National War Memorial, marking the first official public disclosure of those who lost their lives during the operation.
Congress alleges Parliament was misled
Chaudhry accused Singh of making a false statement in Parliament and said the ruling BJP had insulted the armed forces by failing to acknowledge the soldiers who died.
“When Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was lying in Parliament that no soldier had been martyred, the BJP MPs were clapping. None of these people have the right to sit in the House. Rajnath Singh has insulted the country’s Army and soldiers—we demand his resignation and a breach of privilege motion against him,” Chaudhry said.
He alleged that while the BJP frequently invoked the armed forces for political purposes, it had failed to honour those who laid down their lives in service.
According to Chaudhry, the government deliberately concealed the supreme sacrifice of the six personnel, thereby denying them the recognition they deserved.
“Singh lied in the House that no soldier was lost in Operation Sindoor. Inside the BJP, only lies are told and deception is carried out. The foundation of the Modi government is built on lies; they have no right to remain in power,” he alleged.
Questioning the delay in officially naming the deceased personnel, Chaudhry asked why it had taken more than a year for their identities to be made public.
“Why did it take 13 months for the names of the martyred soldiers to be officially released?” he asked.
Listing the party’s demands, Chaudhry said the Congress wanted Singh removed from office and called on the party to move a breach of privilege motion against him in Parliament.
“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh should be removed from his position. We urge our party to bring a breach of privilege motion against the defence minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MPs should publicly apologise for supporting Rajnath Singh’s lies. Also, the Agniveer scheme should be completely abolished,” he said.
Government rejects allegations
The controversy intensified after the names of the six personnel who died during Operation Sindoor were engraved at the National War Memorial. The memorial inscription marked the first official public acknowledgement of the personnel who lost their lives during the military operation conducted in May 2025.
Responding to the Opposition’s allegations, the Defence Ministry rejected claims that Singh had denied fatalities during Operation Sindoor.
The ministry said the nation had paid homage to the fallen personnel “at the earliest opportunity” and asserted that their sacrifice would always be remembered with the dignity and respect it deserved.
It also accused critics of taking the minister’s remarks out of context, stating that social media posts had “misrepresented” Singh’s address in Parliament in July 2025 by selectively quoting an isolated portion of his speech to falsely suggest that he had claimed “no Indian soldier lost his life during Operation Sindoor.”
However, the Congress maintained that the minister’s remarks effectively overlooked the sacrifice of the personnel who died during the operation.
Wing Commander Anuma Acharya (Retd) also criticised the government, alleging that previous administrations had followed the practice of publicly honouring every soldier who made the supreme sacrifice.
“But the Modi government, which politicises the army and soldiers, has repeatedly betrayed the country and the soldiers,” she said.
The exchange has added to the political confrontation over Operation Sindoor, with the Congress continuing to question the government’s handling of information relating to military casualties and the timing of the official recognition accorded to the six personnel whose names now feature at the National War Memorial.
