Cong To Take Out Rallies Against PM’s ‘Silence On Halting Op Sindoor’
FILE PHOTO: Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi addresses a press conference regarding 'Operation Sindoor' in New Delhi
On Wednesday, the Congress party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “politicising” Operation Sindoor, asserting that it would organize rallies nationwide to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as well as the “halting” of Operation Sindoor.
During a joint press conference following a meeting of senior party leaders, Congress MP and general-secretary of communications, Jairam Ramesh, along with the party’s media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, stated, “The BJP is trying to make the military action a ‘brand’ for itself, when the operation belongs to the armed forces and the country.” They emphasized that the military’s actions should not be co-opted for political gain.
The Congress party announced plans for ‘Jai Hind’ rallies in various states to demand accountability from the government. Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, is scheduled to address a press conference in Delhi on Friday. This decision came after a meeting of senior leaders, including Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sachin Pilot, at the party’s headquarters on 24 Akbar Road in Delhi.
Ramesh revealed that a resolution was passed during the meeting, stating, “It was the third meeting of senior Congress leaders in the last 20 days. Since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have been advocating for unity; they have expressed full support for the government and welcomed Operation Sindoor.” He added, “They said we are standing with the government and armed forces resolutely and expressed support for action against Pakistan.”
The Congress party has been vocal about the need for an all-party meeting, noting that two such meetings were held without the Prime Minister’s presence. Ramesh remarked, “These meetings were a mere formality,” highlighting the lack of genuine engagement from the Prime Minister.
In their correspondence with the Prime Minister, both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have requested a special session to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, aiming to send a message of collective resolve. Ramesh pointed out, “It is an occasion to reiterate the resolution passed unanimously on February 22, 1994, on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
The Congress has raised concerns over Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire, which Ramesh described as “unprecedented.” He questioned, “Why is the Prime Minister silent on this?” He also referenced media reports indicating that the Prime Minister was scheduled to meet with NDA chief ministers on May 25, while non-NDA chief ministers were excluded. “There should be no politicisation of Operation Sindoor. Why is the PM only holding a meeting of NDA chief ministers on May 25? Why not opposition-ruled states and their chief ministers?” he asked, emphasizing the need for inclusivity.
Ramesh condemned the BJP’s actions, stating, “We condemn the politicisation in the strongest terms.” He accused the BJP of engaging in “maximum silence on real issues and maximum politicisation,” reiterating the Congress’s demand for an all-party meeting.
He further questioned, “Why does the PM not take the country into confidence on the role of America? US President Trump has once again stated that he mediated. Why is the PM silent on this?” Ramesh called for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and urged for a special session of Parliament. He concluded, “On one hand, Kharge ji and Rahul ji are talking of unity, and on the other hand, the PM is silent and not agreeing to attend an all-party meeting.”
