I'll Not Say Sorry: Prithviraj Chavan Refuses To Apologise Over Operation Sindoor Comment

Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has firmly refused to apologise for his controversial remarks on Operation Sindoor, asserting that he has "said nothing wrong" and has "nothing to apologise for."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chavan stood his ground despite mounting criticism, particularly from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused him of undermining the Indian armed forces.

"I will not say sorry. There is no need for an apology because I did not make any wrong comment," Chavan said, making it clear that he does not intend to retract his statements. His refusal is expected to intensify political confrontations in Parliament, with the BJP likely to use the issue to target the Congress during ongoing debates.

The controversy erupted earlier this week after Chavan claimed that India had suffered a setback on the very first day of Operation Sindoor, a four-day military engagement with Pakistan in May. Speaking at an event in Pune, he alleged that Indian military aircraft were shot down by Pakistani forces on Day 1, leading to what he described as the "complete grounding" of the Indian Air Force due to fears of retaliation.

At a subsequent press conference in Pune, Chavan reiterated his claims, stating that a brief aerial engagement allegedly took place on December 7 and resulted in India's defeat. "On the first day, we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place, Indian aircraft were shot down. Whether people accept it or not, that is what happened," he claimed.

Chavan further alleged that no aircraft took off from key airbases such as Gwalior, Bathinda, and Sirsa, arguing that the risk of Indian jets being shot down was too high.

These remarks drew swift and sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused Chavan of parroting a narrative similar to that put forward by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. BJP leaders alleged that such statements weaken national morale, undermine the armed forces, and play into the hands of hostile propaganda.

Several party spokespersons demanded an unconditional apology, calling Chavan's comments irresponsible and damaging.

However, Chavan went beyond questioning the outcome of the operation and raised broader issues about India's military strategy and structure. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he argued that the conflict involved no ground movement and was restricted to air and missile strikes. "During the entire operation, there was not even a one-kilometre movement of the military," he said. "What unfolded over two or three days was purely aerial warfare and missile warfare. Future wars will be fought in the same manner."

In that context, Chavan questioned the necessity of maintaining a large standing army of around 12 lakh personnel. He suggested that India may need to rethink its military deployment and structure, implicitly advocating a greater emphasis on air power and missile capabilities in future conflicts.

Following the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalham, India launched Operation Sindoor hitting the terror infrastructure in the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan.

However, the Indian government has categorically denied claims that Indian fighter jets were shot down during the operation. Officials have stated that references made by a defence attaché, which some interpreted as confirmation of losses, were taken out of context.

According to official military briefings, Operation Sindoor was a success, with more than 100 terrorists neutralised using advanced platforms, including Rafale fighter jets, SCALP cruise missiles, and HAMMER precision-guided munitions.

Despite repeated official clarifications, Chavan's remarks have reignited a politically charged debate, raising not only questions about the conduct and outcome of Operation Sindoor but also about how opposition leaders publicly discuss and critique India's military actions during sensitive national security situations.