The political climate in Telangana has become increasingly charged following Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's remarks concerning the recent military engagement with Pakistan, dubbed "Operation Sindoor," and his subsequent questioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the conflict. Reddy's comments, made at a public rally in Hyderabad, have drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who accuse him of echoing anti-national narratives and undermining the morale of the armed forces.

At the heart of the controversy is Reddy's questioning of the circumstances surrounding Operation Sindoor, specifically regarding the Indian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets. Reddy claimed that Rafale aircraft were shot down by Pakistan during the operation and demanded that Modi disclose the details of these losses to the public. The Indian Air Force has not officially confirmed any Rafale losses in combat. He also criticized the Prime Minister for not convening an all-party meeting prior to ending hostilities with Pakistan, despite reportedly doing so before the engagement began. "After four days of war, we do not know who threatened whom and who succumbed to whom. All of a sudden, US President Donald Trump came out and said he threatened India and stopped the war," the Chief Minister said.

The BJP's response has been swift and strong, with the party accusing Reddy and the Congress Party of a history of disrespecting the military and national security efforts. The BJP Telangana unit's official handle posted, "Chief Minister Revanth Reddy didn't just echo Pakistan's narrative on Rafale and Operation Sindoor - he went a step further, calling it 'Mana Pakistan' (Our Pakistan). From questioning Surgical Strikes and Balakot to mocking our armed forces and opposing Agnipath - standing against is in Congress's DNA. Stick to Miss World photo ops, Revanth. National security isn't your ramp." This statement references Telangana's hosting of the Miss World 2025 pageant and suggests that Reddy is more suited to such events than matters of national security.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader G Kishan Reddy echoed this sentiment, stating, "From their leader Rahul Gandhi to their CM Revanth Reddy, Congress is demeaning our brave armed forces day in and day out. This is not the first time they have questioned the surgical strikes, not the first time they are speaking the enemy's language."

Reddy's comments also extended to broader criticisms of the Modi government's foreign policy and national security strategy. He suggested that the government had failed to capitalize on the conflict to alter the map of South Asia, specifically mentioning the failure to separate Balochistan from Pakistan and take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In contrast, he referenced the 1971 war with Pakistan, during which Indira Gandhi oversaw the creation of Bangladesh, as an example of decisive leadership.

The controversy has ignited a debate about the appropriate role of political discourse during times of national security concerns. The BJP argues that Reddy's statements undermine the morale of the armed forces and play into the hands of India's adversaries. The Congress party and its supporters, on the other hand, maintain that it is the right of the opposition to question the government's actions and hold them accountable, especially when it comes to matters of war and peace.

Furthermore, this isn't the first time that the Telangana Chief Minister and the Miss World pageant have been linked in political discourse. Earlier this year, the BJP criticized Reddy for allegedly disregarding local cultural sentiments during the events organized ahead of the Miss World pageant in Hyderabad's Old City and for prioritizing spectacle over tradition. Some groups have also opposed the beauty pageant amid a "war-like situation" with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The political ramifications of this controversy remain to be seen. However, it is clear that national security issues will continue to be a major point of contention between the BJP and the Congress party in the lead-up to future elections.