Rahul Gandhi Criticises PM Modi for Using Armed Forces to Protect His Image and Urges Rebuttal of Trump's Claims

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly using the armed forces to bolster his image following the Pahalgam attack. Gandhi challenged Modi to refute US President Donald Trump's claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. "If Modi ji has even 50 per cent of the courage that Indira Gandhi had, then clearly he must say in Parliament -- Donald Trump is lying," Gandhi stated.

During a special discussion on India's Operation Sindoor, Gandhi argued that if the government had heeded his warnings about China and Pakistan's alliance, India might not have lost five planes. He accused the government of revealing sensitive details about Operation Sindoor to Pakistan shortly after it began. "You told Pakistan exactly what you would do: that you would not target military establishments and you didn't want escalation. That's surrender," Gandhi said.

Operation Sindoor and Political Criticism

Gandhi claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh disclosed that Operation Sindoor started at 1:05 AM and lasted 22 minutes. He criticised Singh for stating that India informed Pakistan at 1:35 AM about targeting non-military sites to avoid escalation. Gandhi described this as an immediate surrender within 30 minutes. He also cited remarks by Defence Attache in Indonesia, Group Captain Shiv Kumar, suggesting political constraints prevented attacks on Pakistani military targets.

Gandhi alleged that the operation aimed to protect Modi's image rather than address the Pahalgam victims' plight. "Prime Minister, The nation and the army are far above your image, your politics, your PR, and your propaganda," he later posted on X. He emphasised that the armed forces should operate freely, urging Modi to unleash them fully without restrictions.

China-Pakistan Alliance Concerns

Gandhi expressed concerns over China's support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. He claimed that India's government initially thought it was only confronting Pakistan but soon realised it was facing both China and Pakistan. "The Pakistani Air Force was attached with the Chinese Air Force," he said, citing Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh's remarks on China's assistance to Pakistan.

He criticised Modi for not mentioning China in his speech despite its involvement. "The whole country knows that China helped Pakistan, but the word China did not come out of the Prime Minister's mouth," Gandhi remarked. He argued that India needs a leader who can decisively use the military like Indira Gandhi did in 1971 when Pakistan was divided into two parts.

Call for Strong Leadership

Gandhi urged Modi to demonstrate courage by openly challenging Trump's ceasefire claims. "Have the courage to tell him, no, to hell with you, you can't stop any war," he said. He reiterated that India requires a prime minister who empowers the military to complete their missions without political interference.

Gandhi also referred to Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan's statement about India's tactical adjustments after losses during Operation Sindoor. He insisted that political leadership mistakes tied the hands of military leaders like CDS Anil Chauhan, preventing them from attacking military infrastructure.

The former Congress president criticised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for not highlighting international condemnation of Pakistan during UPA rule. He also condemned Modi for remaining silent when Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, linked to the Pahalgam attack.

Gandhi concluded by asserting that India faces a dangerous time with a Chinese-Pakistani fusion and cannot afford a leader lacking courage to utilise the armed forces effectively. He stressed the need for strong leadership akin to Indira Gandhi's era.

With inputs from PTI