Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday briefed all political parties on the details of Operation Sindoor and told them that at least 100 terrorists were neutralised in precision military strikes at nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The second all-party meeting after the Pahalgam strike saw leaders across party lines once again pledging unequivocal support to the government in whatever actions it may take against the perpetrators of the attack and their handlers.
The entire political class spoke in one voice lauding Operation Sindoor and extending unconditional support to the government. Rajnath Singh shared full details of the non-escalatory operation with the opposition and other parties and said the strikes were meant to take out terrorists as India exercised its right to respond after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack.
He said the Indian Armed Forces exercised extreme caution and sensitivity to not affect civilians and the operation was focused on select terror training camps operating from Pakistan and PoK.
In the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath SIngh and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman – all members of the Cabinet Committee on Security – was raised by Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and some of the other Opposition leaders.
“In this moment of crisis, we stand with the government. We listened to everything they shared. In the national interest, they said that matters of defence and security are confidential and cannot be fully disclosed. All of us expressed our support and said that during this time, we are with you. Whatever work you are doing, continue with it—we will stand by you in the interest of the nation,” said Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
AIMIM chief MM Owaisi complimented the armed forces and the government for Operation Sindoor. “I also suggested that we should run a global campaign against the Resistance Front (TRF). I said the government should request the US to designate it (TRF) as a terrorist organisation. We should also make efforts to grey-list Pakistan in the Financial Action Task Force,” he said.
After the meeting, Kiren Rijiju emphasised that all the leaders have showcased “maturity” and asserted that at the present time, all are “together”. The Union Minister informed that everyone congratulated the Indian Armed Forces for the Operation Sindoor and offered their support to the government in the matter.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi affirmed the party’s full support, echoing Mallikarjun Kharge’s stance that certain issues should not be discussed publicly and noting that all parties were unanimous in their support.
