Operation Sindoor: Women At The Heart Of India’s Retaliation Amid Controversy

When it comes to Indian military operations, many recall Operation Blue Star, the 1984 troop deployment into the Golden Temple under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Others may remember Operation Vijay in 1961, which led to Goa, Daman, and Diu’s incorporation into India, or Operation Maitri, the 2015 humanitarian aid mission to Nepal.

However, the newly announced Operation Sindoor, reportedly named by Prime Minister Modi himself, stands apart for its symbolic focus on women.

A Name Symbolising Vengeance And Women’s Strength

Operation Sindoor draws its name from the red vermilion powder traditionally worn by married Hindu women.

The name was chosen to represent retaliation for the murder of husbands by terrorists in Pahalgam, placing women referred to as ‘nari shakti’ by the prime minister at the centre of India’s response to terror camps within Pakistan.

The gesture intends to highlight women’s role in the nation’s fight against terrorism.

Public Response And Criticism

Despite the intent, not everyone welcomed the operation’s name or approach.

Himanshi Narwal, whose image sitting beside her slain husband, Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, on 22 April, became a poignant symbol of the tragedy, did not receive protection from the operation.

Instead, when she called publicly for peace and rejected hatred, she faced a torrent of online abuse.

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Moreover, critics such as Vaishna Roy, editor of Frontline, openly criticised the choice of the name, describing it as steeped in ‘patriarchy, ownership of women, ‘honour’ killings, chastity’ and other problematic connotations.

Roy herself was subjected to trolling in response.

Political Divisions And Controversial Statements

Within the political sphere, the discourse grew even more fraught.

BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra rebuked grieving women for allegedly lacking a fighting spirit, while Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah controversially questioned the loyalty of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of two female army spokeswomen, suggesting she was a ‘sister’ of terrorists.

Following a Supreme Court-mandated investigation into Shah’s remarks, he hastily claimed his words were a ‘linguistic mistake’.

Prime Minister Modi reportedly intervened at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting, warning leaders against speaking out of turn amid growing tensions.

Hypocrisy And Inclusion Of Controversial Figures

Despite the government’s professed commitment to women’s empowerment, its inclusion of BJP MP MJ Akbar in an outreach delegation raised eyebrows.

Akbar, accused of sexual harassment by over 20 women journalists and alleged by one to have committed rape, resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs in 2018.

He lost a defamation suit against one of his accusers, a case now under appeal at the Delhi High Court.

The Network of Women in Media criticised Akbar’s presence, stating, It undermines the values India seeks to project abroad.”

Operation Sindoor aimed to symbolise women’s strength in the fight against terrorism, yet the surrounding controversy has exposed deep divisions within Indian society and politics.

From public trolling of victims to controversial statements by political leaders, the operation’s name and symbolism have sparked a broader conversation about gender, patriotism, and the true meaning of national unity in times of crisis.