A fresh political confrontation has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress over Operation Sindoor, with the ruling party accusing the opposition of weakening India’s stand on terrorism and showing undue sympathy towards Pakistan.
The controversy was triggered after a video of senior Congress leader and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar surfaced, in which he appeared to advise the BJP-led government to pursue dialogue with Pakistan to ease tensions following Operation Sindoor. Aiyar’s remarks quickly drew strong reactions from the BJP, which described them as reflective of what it called the Congress’s “soft approach” towards Islamabad.
In the video, Aiyar is seen suggesting that India should move towards talks with Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, arguing that dialogue was necessary to prevent escalation and maintain regional stability. Though he did not directly criticise the Indian armed forces, his call for restraint and engagement with Pakistan has been interpreted by the BJP as questioning the rationale and continuation of the military operation.
Reacting sharply, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused the Congress of consistently siding with Pakistan and undermining India’s fight against terrorism. In a scathing remark, Poonawala referred to the Congress as the “Islamabad National Congress,” alleging that the party routinely gives Pakistan a “clean chit” after terror-related incidents.
Poonawala claimed that calls to end Operation Sindoor and resume uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan reflect what he described as the Congress party’s long-standing approach of appeasement and strategic ambiguity on issues of national security.
The BJP leader further alleged that the Congress has a history of opposing decisive military action and failing to stand firmly with the armed forces during critical moments.
The BJP also accused the Congress of insulting the Indian armed forces by questioning military operations and advocating restraint towards Pakistan even after terror-linked developments. According to BJP leaders, such statements demoralise security forces and send a weak signal to adversaries across the border.
Party leaders argued that national security should remain above partisan politics and accused the Congress of politicising military operations for ideological reasons.
Operation Sindoor has increasingly become a flashpoint in India’s political discourse, with the BJP projecting it as an example of a firm and uncompromising approach to cross-border threats and terrorism. The Congress, on the other hand, has emphasised the need for diplomacy and caution, a stance the BJP claims dilutes India’s strategic resolve.
