On July 29, 2025, intense debates in India’s Parliament regarding the recent military standoff with Pakistan and Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam alleged terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his government’s actions, asserting that India had “taught Pakistan a lesson” by calling its “nuclear bluff” during Operation Sindoor. He emphasised the strikes on terrorist bases deep within Pakistan, claiming that there had been a significant shift in India’s strategic posture.
अगर मोदी जी में 50% भी इंदिरा गांधी जितना दम है, तो संसद में साफ़ कहें – डोनाल्ड ट्रंप झूठ बोल रहे हैं!
कह दें कि न उन्होंने ceasefire कराया और न ही हमारे कोई plane गिरे।
सेना को अपनी छवि बचाने का ज़रिया मत बनाइए, मोदी जी! pic.twitter.com/Fbtu4OeYic
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 29, 2025Gandhi’s Criticisms and Challenges
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Modi for his perceived cowardice, claiming that the Modi government avoided military targets to prevent escalation, which forced the armed forces into a position of restraint. Gandhi stated that India could not afford to have Modi as prime minister.
Gandhi challenged Modi to refute U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims about stopping the war, questioning India’s political will. He referenced Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s admission of a ceasefire request just 30 minutes into Operation Sindoor, where military targets were avoided.
प्रधानमंत्री जी,
राष्ट्र और सेना आपकी छवि, आपकी राजनीति, आपके PR और प्रचार से बहुत ऊपर है।
यह समझने की विनम्रता रखिए, यह स्वीकार करने की गरिमा रखिए।
आपमें अगर निर्णय लेने की क्षमता नहीं थी, तो सेना और राष्ट्र का स्वाभिमान गिरवी रखने का भी आपको कोई अधिकार नहीं था। pic.twitter.com/FLnIpGmbBf
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 29, 2025Gandhi referenced Captain Shiv Kumar, claiming that political restrictions resulted in aircraft losses. Opposition members demanded information on the lost jets, including the Rafales.
Modi’s Defence and Achievements
Modi praised the efforts to locate the attackers in Pahalgam, highlighting Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that three terrorists, including two from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had been killed. Former Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah questioned whether they were actually the perpetrators.
The Prime Minister remained silent regarding the losses of Indian aircraft during the air battle with Pakistan’s Air Force. He emphasised India’s swift response, which occurred within 22 minutes after the attack, highlighting the limits of Pakistan’s deterrence.
Read: India Admits Rafale Pilot Death Heavy Losses in Operation Sindoor
Modi stated that no world leader urged India to refrain from its actions, noting that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s calls went unanswered during high-level meetings. He also criticised the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty as unfair and reiterated Pakistan’s calls for a ceasefire.
Modi stated that Operation Sindoor enhanced India’s presence in the global defence market. The four-day conflict, which took place from May 7-10, 2025, was the most serious in decades, with both sides declaring victory. Military officials confirmed that no nuclear threats materialised.
