Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, detailing the precision strike of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack. He condemned the brutality of the April 22 massacre, defended India’s counterterrorism strategy, and launched a scathing rebuttal against opposition parties questioning the operation’s legitimacy and intelligence groundwork.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 29, 2025 —Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a forceful and detailed speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, during the ongoing debate on Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22. The address came amid heated political exchanges, with Shah emphasizing the success of the operation, defending the government’s counterterrorism strategy, and launching a sharp rebuttal to opposition critiques.
Shah began by solemnly condemning the Pahalgam attack, in which terrorists reportedly identified victims by religion before executing them. “Innocent civilians were killed in front of their families — after asking them their religion. I strongly condemn this barbarity and express deep sympathies to those who lost their loved ones,” he said, setting the tone for a debate charged with grief and political tension.
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He detailed the subsequent Operation Mahadev, a coordinated counterterrorism effort by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police that eliminated three A-category Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists directly linked to the Pahalgam attack — identified as Suleman alias Faizal, Afghan, and Jibran.
The Home Minister then outlined the execution of Operation Sindoor, carried out between 1:04 am and 1:24 am on May 7, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Shah highlighted that the strike was designed to avoid civilian casualties while delivering a decisive blow to terror groups.
“No Pakistani civilians were killed. Our DGMO conveyed to the Pakistan DGMO that India had exercised its right to self-defence against state-sponsored terrorism,” Shah said, making clear that the action was not about territory but about dismantling terror safe havens.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during Special Discussion on India’s strong, successful and decisive ‘Operation Sindoor’. https://t.co/uMPdAYiwU6
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 29, 2025
Shah stressed that India’s response sent an unmistakable message — that the country would not tolerate terrorism emanating from across the border, and that this was a continuation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertive national security doctrine.
Political Crossfire: Shah Hits Back at Opposition
The address turned sharply political as Shah pushed back against criticism from the Congress and other opposition parties, which had raised questions about the government’s intelligence preparedness and the actual impact of the military operation.
“Yes, we are in power — it is our responsibility. But when terrorists are eliminated, instead of being satisfied, they [the opposition] look unhappy,” he said.
“Yesterday they asked where the terrorists came from. I ask, why don’t they trust the Foreign Minister of India but put faith in a statement from another country’s president?” Shah said, referring to Congress’s invocation of remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
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He further accused Congress of historical failures in counterterrorism, citing Nehru’s decision in 1948 to declare a ceasefire in Kashmir. “Indian forces were in a decisive position to take back PoK, but then Prime Minister Nehru declared a unilateral ceasefire. Today, under Prime Minister Modi, we have shown what decisive leadership looks like.”
Opposition Spars, Shah Stands Ground
The debate grew increasingly heated as Shah responded to interruptions from Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. In a sharp retort, Shah said,
“Do you talk to Pakistan? Why are you upset about the religion of the terrorists? Terrorism has no religion — but their support here raises serious questions.”
He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance approach to terror and called for national unity in the fight against cross-border militancy. “Operation Sindoor has exposed Pakistan’s terror factories to the world. It was a message — India will not hesitate to defend its people.”
The Home Minister’s speech was part of a comprehensive government briefing, following statements from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to conclude the debate later in the evening.
Shah’s address served multiple purposes: it offered clarity on the facts of Operation Sindoor, projected strength to both domestic and international audiences, and deflected political criticism with a mix of facts and historical context.
As India continues to navigate the complex terrain of regional security, Shah’s speech signaled the government’s intent to remain unapologetically firm in its counterterrorism posture, even as political tensions surrounding its execution persist.
