CDS’ remarks on Op Sindoor losses | ‘Modi govt misled nation’: Congress

After the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), for the first time, admitted to India’s losses in Operation Sindoor, the Congress on Saturday (May 31) slammed the Narendra Modi government and said it had “misled the nation” and reiterated the party's demand for a Special Session of Parliament to be convened.

Also read: ‘Jet being downed not important, but why’: CDS on Op Sindoor losses

“I think what is important is that not the jet being downed, but why they were being downed. Good part is, we were able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedied, rectified and then implemented it again after two days and flew all our jets again targeting at long range...,” CDS General Anil Chauhan told Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Asked about Pakistan’s reported claims that six Indian jets were downed, he termed it as “absolutely incorrect”, reiterating that what is important was why the jets went down.

What Congress president said

Reacting to CDS’s admission, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the party “demands a Comprehensive Review of our Defence Preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the Kargil Review Committee”.

Also read: CDS Chauhan outlines India’s strategy and wins in Op Sindoor: 10 points

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kharge wrote, “In the wake of the remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in Singapore in an interview, there are some very important questions which need to be asked.”

“These can only be asked if a Special Session of the Parliament is immediately convened. The Modi Govt has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing,” he added.

Further, he said, “Our IAF pilots were risking their lives fighting the enemy. We have suffered some losses, but our pilots were safe. As per CDS's interview, "we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range". We salute their resolute courage and bravery. However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour.”

'Modi taking personal credit'

Kharge also questioned the Centre over US President Donald Trump repeatedly claiming that he brokered a truce between India and Pakistan. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being on an “election blitz” and claiming “personal credit” for the valour of the Indian Armed Forces.

“US President Donald Trump has again repeated his claim about BROKERING a CEASEFIRE. This is a direct affront to the Shimla Agreement. Instead of clarifying Mr. Trump's repeated assertions, and the affidavit filed by US Secretary of Commerce in the United States 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, which the Foreign Secretary announced on 10th, after Mr. Trump's tweet,” Kharge said.

“Is India and Pakistan now again hyphenated? What are the conditions of the CEASEFIRE agreement? 140 Cr Patriotic Indians deserve to know this,” he added.

Congress wants Kargil war-like panel

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, on July 29, 1999, the Vajpayee government set up the Kargil Review Committee under the chairmanship of “India's strategic affairs guru K. Subrahmanyam – whose son is now our External Affairs Minister”.

This was just three days after the Kargil War had ended, he said in a post on X.

He further said, “This Committee submitted its detailed report five months later. The report titled ‘From Surprise to Reckoning’ was then laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on Feb 23, 2000 after the necessary redactions.

“Will the Modi Govt now take a similar step in light of what the Chief of Defence Staff has just revealed in Singapore?”