The Rajya Sabha yesterday took up a special discussion on India’s strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Initiating the discussion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian Army and security forces for eliminating three terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir who brutally killed 26 innocent people in Pahalgam.
He stressed that the objective of the Operation Sindoor was to destroy terrorist hideouts and to send a clear message that India adopts a zero tolerance against terrorism. He added that Operation Sindoor’s role is highly important in shaping the country’s future.
Mr. Singh said, terrorists were considering India a soft target, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a strong message was sent to terrorists that their hideouts will be destroyed if they take the lives of innocent people. He said, in retaliation to cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, the Indian Armed Forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistan and killed more than 100 terrorists.
The Defence Minister reiterated that if Pakistan will dare any misadventure in the future, the country will not hesitate to resume Operation Sindoor. He said that India will never bow down to Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail and other war tactics. Mr Singh added that the government has taken steps to strengthen the armed forces by giving them the freedom for emergency procurement to deal with any emergency situation.
Speaking about defence export, Mr Singh said that the defence products made in the country are being exported to nearly 100 countries this year and the defence export has touched 30 thousand crore rupees, which is expected to touch 50 thousand crore rupees by 2029.
Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, questioned the government about the announcement of ceasefire during Operation Sindoor. Accusing the government of intelligence failure, Mr. Kharge said, the Uri, Pulwama, and now Pahalgam attacks showed the intelligence failure. He also questioned the government for being unable to apprehend the terrorists who were responsible for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Mr Kharge said Union Home Minister Amit Shah should take responsibility for the security lapses that led to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Responding to Karghe’s allegations, the Defence Minister emphasised that the ceasefire announcement was not made under any pressure and no talks were held between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tiruchi Siva of DMK accused the government of not responding to questions of the opposition on Operation Sindoor. He said, the demand for convening a special session was also not accepted. He asked for fixing the responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack.
Sanjay Singh of AAP said, his party will appreciate the valour and courage of Indian Armed Forces again and again but he will question the government over Operation Sindoor. He asked who is responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack.
Y V Subba Reddy of YSRCP said that Operation Sindoor has become a symbol of India’s strategic, precision and brave revenge of counter-offensive. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly pointed that trade, talks and terror can not go together and water and blood also can not flow together. He said, his party also supported the government’s move to send seven separate delegations to visit important and key partner countries, carrying India’s strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism.
Subhasish Khuntia of BJD lauded the valour and capability of the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor and paid tributes to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. He said, the success of Operation Sindoor not only reflects the commitment of armed forces towards national security but also shows the commitment towards entire humanity.
Participating in the discussion Dr M Thambidurai of AIADMK said that through Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and PoJK. He said, the operation highlighted country’s technological capabilities. He said that Operation Sindoor has sent a clear message to Pakistan as no further acts of terrorism will be taken lightly.
Sanjay Kumar Jha of JD(U) termed the Operation Sindoor as historic as it was precise and measured. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, nominated, said that there is not a single country which did not condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
Praful Patel of NCP said that after the Pahalgam terror attack, the government had made a firm resolve to give a befitting reply to those responsible for this attack. Brij Lal of BJP accused the Congress of raising question on Operation Sindoor.
Prof Ram Gopal Yadav appreciated the Armed Forces for lauching Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. He said, the whole opposition is with the government on the issue of national secuirty. Mahua Maji of JMM saluted the courage and valour of Indian Armed Forces. She questioned the government under whose pressure the ceasefire was done.
Sagarika Ghose of TMC, A D Singh of RJD, P Chidambaram and Shaktisinh Gohil of Congress, and G K Vasan of TMC(M) also participated in the discussion. However, the discussion remained inconclusive. Later, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for till 11 AM today.
