NEW DELHI: Accusing PM Modi of using the defence forces to "protect his image", leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said govt "surrendered" before Pakistan by telling it within moments of Operation Sindoor that it did not intend to escalate or attack military installations.
He said Modi had "blood of people of Pahalgam" on his hands, and he sent the air force to "protect his image". Rahul asked the PM to realise "the nation is above your image" and not to "sacrifice the armed forces and national interests for your own petty political gains".
Rahul said govt showed a lack of political will and did not give the forces "freedom of operation", and cited US President Donald Trump claiming 29 times that he forced a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. More than once, he challenged the PM to announce that Trump is a liar and did not force "ceasefire" and India did not lose any planes, egging Modi to say this if "you have even 50% courage of Indira Gandhi".
Rahul said Modi govt avoided naming "China" in its remarks, but the reality is that India fought Pakistan fused with China militarily, reminding he was laughed at when he had warned about it earlier in LS. "Govt thought they were fighting Pakistan... but realised they were fighting China," he said, quoting Lt Gen Rahul Singh's recent revelations that Pakistan was getting live battlefield information from China. "If you had listened to me, you would not have lost five planes." He said govt should not allow India to become a "battlefield for big powers".
He cited the revelations of CDS Anil Chauhan and defence attache in Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar, even as he urged the CDS to come out with a statement that the forces were hobbled by the political brass. "May be Rajnath does not understand what he revealed... that DGMO was told by govt to ask for ceasefire at 1.35am on the day of operation... surrender in 30 minutes," Rahul said.
He said Rajnath's comparison of the 1971 war and Operation Sindoor was jarring because then PM Indira Gandhi had rebuffed US President Richard Nixon and the US seventh fleet, and finished the job.
He was severe on EAM S Jaishankar, whose claim of "new normal" and of govt having deterred Pakistan was picked apart with the argument that Pahalgam mastermind and Pakistan army chief Feild Marshal Asim Munir was hosted by Trump in the White House for lunch, while the US Central Command head is presently having a discussion with Munir on how to fight terrorism.
He said Modi had "blood of people of Pahalgam" on his hands, and he sent the air force to "protect his image". Rahul asked the PM to realise "the nation is above your image" and not to "sacrifice the armed forces and national interests for your own petty political gains".
Rahul said govt showed a lack of political will and did not give the forces "freedom of operation", and cited US President Donald Trump claiming 29 times that he forced a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. More than once, he challenged the PM to announce that Trump is a liar and did not force "ceasefire" and India did not lose any planes, egging Modi to say this if "you have even 50% courage of Indira Gandhi".
Rahul said Modi govt avoided naming "China" in its remarks, but the reality is that India fought Pakistan fused with China militarily, reminding he was laughed at when he had warned about it earlier in LS. "Govt thought they were fighting Pakistan... but realised they were fighting China," he said, quoting Lt Gen Rahul Singh's recent revelations that Pakistan was getting live battlefield information from China. "If you had listened to me, you would not have lost five planes." He said govt should not allow India to become a "battlefield for big powers".
He cited the revelations of CDS Anil Chauhan and defence attache in Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar, even as he urged the CDS to come out with a statement that the forces were hobbled by the political brass. "May be Rajnath does not understand what he revealed... that DGMO was told by govt to ask for ceasefire at 1.35am on the day of operation... surrender in 30 minutes," Rahul said.
He said Rajnath's comparison of the 1971 war and Operation Sindoor was jarring because then PM Indira Gandhi had rebuffed US President Richard Nixon and the US seventh fleet, and finished the job.
He was severe on EAM S Jaishankar, whose claim of "new normal" and of govt having deterred Pakistan was picked apart with the argument that Pahalgam mastermind and Pakistan army chief Feild Marshal Asim Munir was hosted by Trump in the White House for lunch, while the US Central Command head is presently having a discussion with Munir on how to fight terrorism.
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