As Operation Sindoor details remain classified, Rahul Gandhi demands answers on potential aircraft losses and blasts Jaishankar for past disclosures to Pakistan. BJP fires back, calling his remarks “sinister.”
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI, May 19, 2025 — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday escalated his attack on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, demanding answers over alleged security lapses during Operation Sindoor, and reigniting the controversy over Jaishankar’s past admission that India had informed Pakistan in advance of a military operation.
In a strongly worded post on X, Gandhi asked:
“EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning. So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew?”
He went on to say, “This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth.”
Gandhi’s remarks come in the wake of Jaishankar’s earlier 2023 televised statement in which the minister acknowledged that the Indian government had informed Pakistan ahead of a planned retaliatory strike, reportedly to avoid escalation and civilian casualties. That admission had drawn sharp criticism from the opposition at the time, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the Modi government of “undermining strategic surprise” and compromising national interest.
Now, Gandhi is linking that past decision to the current controversy surrounding Operation Sindoor — a covert military-led evacuation of Indian nationals from a high-risk zone. He alleges that Pakistan’s prior knowledge may have led to the loss of Indian assets, although the government has neither confirmed nor denied any such losses.
EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning.
So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew?
This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth. https://t.co/izn4LmBGJZ
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2025
BJP Fires Back, Accuses Rahul of Echoing Enemy Lines
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly rebuked Gandhi’s statement.
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, wrote on X:
“Rahul Gandhi’s daftness is not merely incidental—it is sinister. He is speaking the language of Pakistan.”
Other BJP leaders also criticized Gandhi for “endangering national morale” and “politicizing defense operations”, asserting that Operation Sindoor was a success and that criticism rooted in speculation only emboldens adversaries.
Operation Sindoor: Shadow of Secrecy Fuels Demands for Clarity
Launched earlier this month, Operation Sindoor remains shrouded in secrecy. Official briefings confirm that several Indian nationals were evacuated safely from a volatile region believed to be near the Indo-Pak border, but further details — including the alleged loss of aircraft or intelligence failures — have not been made public.
Gandhi’s persistent questioning of the government’s handling of the operation, and his invocation of Jaishankar’s past remarks, has now ignited a renewed political firestorm, especially as tensions in the region remain fragile.
Opposition Demands Transparency, Accountability
The Congress party has echoed Gandhi’s call for greater transparency, claiming that selective secrecy and unilateral decision-making by the Modi government have compromised both national security and democratic oversight. Party spokespersons argue that public trust requires full disclosure, especially if military resources were lost due to “avoidable lapses.”
Meanwhile, government sources maintain that any disclosures must be measured and responsible, citing national security concerns.
