Congress MP Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the Modi government’s handling of Operation Sindoor, especially its communication strategy with Pakistan. He claimed that the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) was explicitly instructed not to escalate the situation and to pursue a ceasefire on the very night the operation was initiated. This directive, he argued, signaled a contradictory stance where military aggression was paired with immediate diplomatic backpedaling, ultimately undermining the effectiveness of the mission.
Rahul Gandhi expressed surprise and concern over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s reported phone call to Pakistan shortly after the commencement of the operation. According to Gandhi, Singh informed Pakistan that India had only struck non-military targets and was not seeking any further escalation. This, Gandhi suggested, sent a confusing message and compromised India's strategic advantage. He believed this early reassurance to the adversary was both premature and unnecessary, especially in the context of a military engagement.
Furthermore, Gandhi stated that the Defence Minister went a step further by allegedly disclosing that India had no intention of targeting Pakistan’s military installations. This disclosure, according to him, had significant implications for the Indian Air Force’s ability to operate freely and effectively. He contended that such political decisions placed serious limitations on the IAF’s operational scope, thus weakening India’s position.
The Congress MP also cited India’s Defence Attache to Indonesia, Shiv Kumar, who reportedly revealed that Indian aircraft were lost during Operation Sindoor due to orders that prohibited them from neutralizing Pakistan’s military establishments or air defense systems. Gandhi described this as a grave mistake, arguing that Indian pilots were sent into hostile territory without being allowed to take necessary defensive actions. He likened the decision to sending soldiers into battle with their hands tied, putting them in unnecessary danger due to politically imposed constraints.
In his speech, Rahul Gandhi questioned the rationale behind Rajnath Singh’s decision to inform Pakistan of India’s intentions and limitations. By doing so, he claimed, India effectively conveyed that it lacked the political resolve to confront Pakistan head-on. Gandhi argued that the problem lay not with the capabilities of the Indian Air Force, but with the government’s lack of political will, which ultimately led to the unnecessary loss of fighter jets during the operation.
