• Source:JND
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A senior Congress leader has stirred debate by suggesting there may be inconsistencies surrounding Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Ajay Rai, the Congress chief in Uttar Pradesh, made the comments after Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed on Friday that Indian forces had shot downed fighter jets made in the US and China during the four-day-long operation in May.

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi issued a warning to Pakistan the same day and said while Indian forces had shown restraint during Operation Sindoor, they would not do so the next time if Islamabad continues to support cross-border terror.

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Rai who has previously contested and lost three Lok Sabha elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi raised concerns over what he described as conflicting statements from top military officials. This, according to him, suggested there might be some “gadbad” (something fishy or off).

"This repeated clarification, these repeated statements before the people of the country, proves that something is wrong ('gadbad hai'). The Chief of Defence Staff gives a different statement, sometimes the Army chief gives a different statement. This proves there is something wrong.... It shows that something serious is going on and the Prime Minister should make everything clear to the people of the country," he said.

While responding to a different question, Rai emphasized the Congress party’s deep respect for Indian soldiers.

"Everyone respects the soldier of the country. Everyone respects him because he serves the country by risking his life. He serves Mother India," he said.

In response, the BJP accused Rai of undermining the armed forces, claiming he was acting on cues from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in Colombia.

"All the military heads are on the same page (on Operation Sindoor). What information do they (the Congress) want? They are trying to lower the morale of the armed forces based on instructions from Colombia. Operation Sindoor was one of the most successful operations anywhere in the world and the damage is so heavy that Pakistan does not know where to run," said BJP Spokesperson Tom Vadakkan.

"If this gentleman is abusing the defence forces, it's just not acceptable. After trying to cast doubts on the Election Commission, the Congress is trying to build another narrative," he alleged.

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Operation Sindoor

Following the April terror attack in Pahalgam, India launched targeted strikes on multiple terror camps in Pakistan, including key sites like Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s in Bahawalpur, starting early on May 7.

Pakistan responded by attempting drone and missile attacks on Indian military and civilian targets over three consecutive days. However, India’s air defence systems successfully neutralized these threats. In retaliation, Indian forces took out several of Pakistan’s air defence systems including those in Lahore and targeted critical military installations, such as the Nur Khan airbase, also known as Chaklala.

Eventually, Pakistan requested a ceasefire, which India agreed to.

Throughout the operation and in its aftermath, India’s armed forces presented evidence of their strikes including attacks on both terror infrastructure and military targets. Independent satellite imagery further confirmed damage at Pakistani bases, including Sargodha, Chaklala (Nur Khan), Bholari, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Rahim Yar Khan.