BJP Accuses Congress of Insulting Armed Forces Over Prithviraj Chavan’s Remarks on Operation Sindoor

New Delhi:
A political storm has erupted over former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s comments on Operation Sindoor, in which he claimed that India had effectively lost on the very first day. BJP leaders have strongly criticized the statement, accusing Congress of disrespecting the Indian Armed Forces.

BJP Hits Back

Speaking to ANI, BJP national spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala said, “Disrespecting the armed forces has become a hallmark of the Congress party. This is not just Prithviraj Chavan’s statement; Rahul Gandhi has made similar remarks before. Such statements reflect the mindset of Congress, which fails to take action against its leaders. This exposes the party’s anti-army mentality.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh added that no one has the right to insult the valor of the armed forces, emphasizing that those who do so are not considering national interest. BJP MP Brij Lal also condemned Chavan’s statement, asserting that Congress has historically supported Pakistan and undermined India’s image abroad. He warned that the nation is watching and will hold Congress accountable.

Prithviraj Chavan’s Statement

On Tuesday, Chavan stated that while India’s army is numerically superior to Pakistan—with 12–15 lakh troops compared to Pakistan’s 5–6 lakh—the nature of modern warfare has changed. According to him, future conflicts will be heavily dominated by air power and missile strikes, rather than traditional ground engagements.

He said, “During Operation Sindoor, the army could not advance even one kilometer. The battle was limited to air and missile attacks, and future wars will be fought in the same way. In such circumstances, maintaining a 12-lakh-strong army may not be necessary. They could be deployed for other important tasks.”

Political Fallout

Chavan’s remarks have intensified the ongoing debate on military preparedness and political accountability, with BJP portraying the statement as an affront to the bravery and sacrifices of India’s armed forces. The controversy comes amid heightened discussions on national security and strategic operations in sensitive regions.