Prithviraj Chavan Defends Statement on Op Sindoor, BJP Seeks Accountability
Former Maharashtra CM refuses to apologise, citing constitutional right to question, while BJP accuses Congress of anti-army sentiment
Pune, Dec 17 : Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday refused to apologise for his remarks on Operation Sindoor, asserting that the Constitution gives him the right to ask questions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded sharply, accusing the Congress of fostering an “anti-army mindset” and demanding action against him.
Chavan’s comments, which sparked a political storm, claimed that India was “defeated on the first day” of Operation Sindoor and that Indian aircraft were shot down during the four-day conflict with Pakistan in May. Speaking to reporters in Pune, he said: “Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions.”
Chavan’s remarks on Operation Sindoor
According to ANI, Chavan alleged that Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were grounded due to the risk of being shot down. He stated:
“In the half-hour aerial engagement on May 7, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down.”
“The Air Force was completely grounded. Not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan.”
He also questioned the need for maintaining a large standing army, suggesting that future wars would be fought primarily through air power and missiles.
BJP hits back
BJP leaders strongly condemned Chavan’s remarks. MP Brij Lal accused the Congress of consistently humiliating the country and called the party “pro-Pakistani”. National spokesperson CR Kesavan likened Chavan’s statements to those of a “third-grade Pakistani spokesperson”, accusing Congress of maligning the armed forces and questioning why top leaders Rahul, Sonia, and Priyanka Gandhi had not distanced themselves from the remarks.
Operation Sindoor and official stand
Operation Sindoor, conducted from May 7 to 10, was a retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. India claimed to have eliminated over 100 terrorists in 23 minutes using Rafale jets, HAMMER bombs, and SCALP missiles.
Reports of Indian fighter jets being shot down arose from a misunderstood Defence Attaché statement during a seminar in Indonesia, which India later clarified did not reflect the actual operational facts.
