Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, expressed full support for any actions taken by the government and commended the initiative to hold all-party meetings.
New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed an all-party meeting today that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, emphasizing that while India does not seek to escalate the situation, it will retaliate if Pakistan strikes. This meeting followed India’s precision airstrikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), aimed at dismantling the operations of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, two groups responsible for carrying out attacks on Indian soil.
During the meeting, sources stated, the Defence Minister briefed participants about the strikes, though he highlighted the sensitivity of the situation, preventing the sharing of all details. Mr. Singh mentioned that approximately 100 terrorists were reportedly killed in the airstrikes, but clarified that the exact number had not been confirmed yet and more information was still being gathered.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, expressed full support for the government’s actions and appreciated the government’s effort to include the Opposition by convening all-party meetings before and after the operation. Although he posed a few questions, he refrained from pressing the government for answers, acknowledging the sensitive nature of the situation.
Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, raised concerns about Prime Minister Modi’s absence from the meeting. Speaking to the media afterward, Mr. Kharge remarked, “He was not present at the earlier meeting either. It’s okay, he thinks he is above Parliament. We will ask him sometime. But this is a time of crisis, we don’t want to criticise anyone.” Rahul Gandhi also mentioned that certain details were confidential and could not be shared with the media.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the political leaders for their maturity during the meeting, noting that there was no room for politics during such a crisis. He said that leaders from all parties unanimously supported the government’s actions and commended the armed forces. “At a time like this, there is no place for politics. Everyone stood united in supporting the government and the forces,” he remarked.
Mr. Rijiju further added that Defence Minister Singh emphasized that the meeting showed political leaders were not in office just to form a government but to lead the nation. “Across the country, all political leaders are speaking in one voice. This is a good sign. I want to thank all the leaders for their support,” he concluded.
India’s airstrikes were conducted under Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the attack’s characteristics were consistent with Pakistan’s longstanding history of supporting cross-border terrorism, a fact well-documented and indisputable. “Despite weeks passing since the attack, Pakistan has taken no meaningful action against terrorist groups operating from its soil or territories under its control. Instead, it has offered denials and accusations. Our intelligence pointed to imminent threats, necessitating action to deter and pre-empt further attacks,” Misri stated.
