Chavan Refuses Apology on Operation Sindoor Remarks
BJP slams Congress for “insulting Army” as Prithviraj Chavan stands by ‘Day 1 defeat’ claim
- Prithviraj Chavan says he has “nothing to apologise for” over Operation Sindoor remarks
- BJP accuses Congress of anti-Army mindset, calls statement pro-Pakistan
- Congress distances itself, reiterates support for Indian Armed Forces
- Armed forces reject Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian aircraft
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Dec: Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday refused to apologise for his controversial remarks on Operation Sindoor, asserting that he had “said nothing wrong” and had no reason to express regret.
“I will not say sorry… I haven’t made any wrong comment,” Chavan said, standing by his claim that India was “defeated on Day 1” of the military engagement with Pakistan in May. His remarks, first made at an event in Pune, included allegations that Indian military aircraft were shot down and that the Indian Air Force was “completely grounded” on the first day of the operation.
The statement triggered sharp political reactions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party launching a fierce attack on the Congress. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the party of repeatedly insulting the Armed Forces, alleging that such remarks reflected an “anti-Army mindset.” Union Minister Giriraj Singh said no one had the right to undermine the valour of the military, while BJP leaders Brij Lal and Brijmohan Agrawal termed the comments pro-Pakistan and an insult to the nation.
Facing mounting criticism, the Congress sought to distance itself from Chavan’s remarks. Jharkhand MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said the party was proud of the Armed Forces and supported the government in its fight against terrorism and Pakistan. Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari also praised the Army’s strength and professionalism.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, targeting multiple terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian Air Force has dismissed Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets, calling them unsubstantiated propaganda and asserting that India’s air defence systems effectively neutralised Pakistani missile and drone attacks.
