Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Modi government accusing it of misleading the nation about recent hostilities between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Kharge’s reaction follows Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan’s recent remarks in an interview in Singapore, where he acknowledged the loss of Indian aircraft during the four-day military confrontation earlier this month, while dismissing Pakistan’s claims of shooting down six Indian jets as “absolutely incorrect”.

“The Modi Government has misled the nation,” Kharge alleged. “Our Indian Air Force pilots fought with immense bravery, risking their lives in service of the country. While we suffered some losses, they all returned safely. We salute their courage,” he added.

Calling for transparency and accountability, Kharge demanded the immediate convening of a special session of Parliament. “In the wake of the CDS’s statements, there are very important questions that need to be asked. These can only be done if a special session of Parliament is convened immediately,” he said in a post on X.

Kharge called for a comprehensive review of India’s defence preparedness by an independent expert committee, similar to the Kargil Review Committee formed after the 1999 conflict with Pakistan. He also emphasised the need to assess strategic and operational gaps that may have led to tactical errors during Operation Sindoor.

Kharge on Trump’s claims

Kharge also pointed to US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he “brokered a ceasefire” between India and Pakistan. “This is a direct affront to the Shimla Agreement,” Kharge stated, questioning why the government has not officially addressed Trump’s statements or clarified the terms of the ceasefire that followed the hostilities.

“Instead of responding to Trump’s assertions or addressing the affidavit filed by the US Secretary of Commerce in the US Court of International Trade, PM Modi is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of our Armed Forces, hiding behind their bravery and dodging the contours of the agreed ceasefire,” Kharge said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticised the government’s communication strategy. “It is extraordinary and telling that the PM won’t call an all-party meeting or inform Parliament, yet the public learns about the first phase of Operation Sindoor through an interview given by the CDS in Singapore,” Ramesh wrote on X.

Earlier today, General Chauhan clarified in his interview that while aircraft were lost, the key issue was identifying and correcting the tactical mistakes that led to those losses. “We remedied, rectified and flew all our jets again after two days, this time targeting long-range assets,” he said. The CDS called Pakistan’s claims of downing six Indian jets “absolutely incorrect”.

Earlier this month, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations for the Indian Air Force, had also acknowledged that losses are “a part of combat” but confirmed that all pilots had returned safely.