Rajnath Singh Defends Operation Sindoor, Questions Opposition’s Intentions in Lok Sabha

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday regarding the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military response under Operation Sindoor. He criticized the Opposition for raising what he termed as misguided and irrelevant questions.
On the issue of how the Pahalgam attack occurred and whether there was an intelligence failure, Singh refrained from divulging details, citing the ongoing investigation. He chose not to disclose information about the perpetrators or the specific circumstances leading up to the attack.
When questioned about the number of Indian Air Force jets lost during the operation, Singh dismissed the query as misplaced. “In any exam, the result matters. The focus should be on the outcome—our forces achieved their goals,” he said. Emphasizing the success of Operation Sindoor, he highlighted that no Indian soldiers were lost, while key terror bases were eliminated.
Singh also addressed concerns about the ceasefire decision on May 10, firmly denying any external influence. “We stopped the operation because all political and military objectives were achieved,” he said. Rejecting claims of U.S. pressure, he reiterated that the campaign’s goal was not territorial conquest but the destruction of terror infrastructure in Pakistan. He further warned that the operation remains on standby and will resume if Pakistan repeats any misadventure.