Infamous for her controversial remarks, Veteran Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, during the Monsoon Session of Rajya Sabha on July 30, 2025, raised sharp questions about the name “Operation Sindoor”.
She asked: “If women’s sindoor was wiped off in the Pahalgam terror attack, then why was the counter‑strike named Sindoor?”, calling the choice of name insensitive and deeply hurtful to the survivors and victims’ families. Bachchan condemned the unfolding events as surreal, saying the government’s narrative sounded like fiction, and sarcastically complimenting officials for hiring “writers who coin grand names”.
She began by offering condolences to the 26 victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Listening to the killings felt “unreal,” resembling fiction rather than tragedy.
Jaya Bachchan’s Critique in Rajya Sabha
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Jaya Bachchan challenged the choice of name, asking:
“Why call it Operation Sindoor when women lost their sindoor?” She alluded to Hindu widows who were left behind, whose vermilion symbol—sindoor—was wiped out by the violence -
She also criticized the government’s post-Article 370 assurances, saying promises of ending terrorism were unfulfilled. She said, “You have destroyed the faith and trust of the people… the families will never forgive you.” She emphasized that humility, not just power, is essential in governance
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BJP’s Reaction
- BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla countered that sindoor is more than adornment—it’s a symbol of strength. He said the name was intended to convey:
“You wipe off sindoor, we will destroy you.” He defended the name as a message of resolve and capability - The government highlighted sindoor (vermilion worn by married Hindu women) not just as adornment but as a symbol of strength, commitment, and faith, and argued the operation’s name reflected that symbolism.
- Home Minister Amit Shah praised troops for preventing Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from escaping to Pakistan, using the debate to highlight the operation’s success contre threat.
Why the Name ‘Operation Sindoor’?
Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly named the counter-operation “Operation Sindoor.”
By naming the mission Operation Sindoor, PM Modi was said to convey: “Those who try to wipe off the sindoor of our women, will be wiped out.” The title thus became a metaphor for restoring dignity, safety, and retaliation in honor of the fallen soldiers—many of whom left behind grieving widows and families.
In Summary
“Operation Sindoor”, named by PM Modi, is steeped in cultural symbolism. However, as Jaya Bachchan raised questions about the title, its emotional weight also opens it up to interpretation as a reminder of loss—a nuance that sparked parliamentary tension and broader public debate.
Jaya Bachchan’s emotionally charged intervention has put the spotlight on how national security actions are publicly framed—raising questions about the balance between symbolic strength and respectful remembrance.
