Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday clarified that the Congress Party does not oppose Operation Sindoor, but instead seeks greater transparency from the BJP-led government regarding decisions made around the anti-terror mission.
Speaking at the Jai Hind Sabha in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Baghel questioned the whereabouts of the four terrorists responsible for the 22 April Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead.
“We are not questioning the operation or our armed forces. We are asking where those terrorists have gone,” he said.
Questions Over Ceasefire And Foreign Influence
Baghel went further, criticising the central government’s handling of international diplomacy.
“Why did the BJP government accept a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump?” he asked, drawing a historical contrast with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He recalled Gandhi’s refusal to bow to American pressure during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
“Indira Gandhi stood firm against US President Nixon, even when he sent the Seventh Fleet to the Bay of Bengal. She did not retreat. She broke Pakistan into two,” Baghel remarked.
Congress Reinforces Support For Armed Forces
Alongside senior Congress figures, including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, Baghel reiterated that the Indian armed forces belong to the nation not to any political party.
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“There is no doubt about the bravery of our soldiers or the legitimacy of Operation Sindoor. But the government must answer: where are the four terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack?” Baghel pressed.
The Jai Hind Sabha formed part of the Congress Party’s nationwide initiative to pay tribute to the armed forces’ valour during Operation Sindoor.
As part of the programme, Congress leaders laid floral tributes at the Shaurya Smarak in Jabalpur to honour the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Political Messaging Ahead Of Elections
Congress’ ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ are widely seen as a strategic counter to the BJP’s recent Tiranga Yatras, which celebrated the military’s role in Operation Sindoor and sought to boost the party’s nationalistic credentials.
By calling for accountability without questioning the armed forces’ actions, the Congress aims to present itself as both patriotic and responsible positioning itself as a party that supports national security while also demanding democratic transparency.
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