The political arena is ablaze with controversy following claims made by a Telangana minister regarding the loss of Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, a recent cross-border offensive against terror camps in Pakistan. The minister is urging the central government to acknowledge these losses, citing an interview given by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan to Bloomberg as evidence.
According to reports, the minister, a prominent Congress leader, asserted in a press conference on Saturday, May 31, 2025, that General Chauhan had confirmed the downing of Rafale aircraft during the four-day conflict. He criticized the government for allegedly denying these losses and demanded transparency on the matter. He also quoted Air Marshal Bharti, the DG Air Operation, who had mentioned that losses are normal in combat. He stated that the government should no longer deny the losses, now that the CDS himself has mentioned it.
However, details emerging from General Chauhan's interview with Bloomberg paint a more nuanced picture. While the CDS acknowledged that India had indeed lost fighter jets during the operation, he refuted Pakistan's claims of downing six Indian warplanes as "absolutely incorrect." He emphasized that the focus should be on understanding "why they were being downed" and rectifying any tactical mistakes that may have led to the losses.
"What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down," General Chauhan stated during the interview held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He added that the Indian military was able to understand the tactical mistake made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days. He further downplayed claims about the effectiveness of weaponry deployed from China and other countries by Pakistan, saying they "didn't work".
The Telangana minister's statements have ignited a fierce political debate, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing him and other Congress leaders of echoing Pakistan's narrative and undermining the armed forces. Some BJP leaders have gone as far as advising the Telangana Chief Minister to stick to "Miss World photo ops" and refrain from commenting on national security matters.
Meanwhile, other Congress leaders are demanding strong answers from the Centre regarding Operation Sindoor, raising questions about the circumstances of the ceasefire with Pakistan, the Pahalgam terror attack that triggered the operation, and the overall handling of the conflict. Some have called for a review committee to audit the operations, similar to the Kargil Review Committee established after the Kargil War in 1999.
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed, has been a subject of intense public and political scrutiny. While the Indian government has hailed it as a successful counter-terrorism operation, questions persist regarding the extent of the conflict, the losses incurred, and the strategic implications of the ceasefire. The recent statements by the Telangana minister and the CDS's interview have only added fuel to the fire, intensifying the demand for greater transparency and accountability from the government.
