New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday intensified its calls for the government to come clean about the Indian military’s losses during Operation Sindoor. Highlighting comments made by top defence officials, Telangana Irrigation Minister and former Indian Air Force fighter pilot Uttar Kumar Reddy urged the Centre to disclose how many Indian jets were downed by Pakistan during the operation.
“The fact that the fighter aircraft were shot down is something the government needs to stop denying. The CDS himself mentioned that. Earlier, Air Marshal Bharti had mentioned it indirectly in his briefing report, along with the DGMO… The whole country must realise today that for some reason, the GoI was not upfront with whatever happened,” said Reddy.
CDS confirms jet losses
In a major development, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, while speaking to Reuters at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, became the first high-ranking official to explicitly acknowledge that India lost aircraft in the military action. Chauhan said the number of aircraft lost was less significant than the reasons behind the losses and the corrective measures that would follow. “What was important is, why these losses occurred, and what we’ll do after that,” he said. Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, had earlier commented during a press conference that “losses are a part of combat.”
Reddy backed General Chauhan’s stance and reiterated the need for accountability and introspection. “That is what Shri Rahul Gandhi said in the first instance, against which lots of negative campaigns have been done by the BJP,” he added.
BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi’s demand for transparency regarding the military setbacks has attracted harsh criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia branded the Congress leader “irresponsible” and labelled him “Nishan-e-Pakistan.”
Concerns over India’s air losses are not limited to the political opposition. French defence contractor Dassault Aviation is reportedly apprehensive about how its Rafale jets performed under combat conditions during Operation Sindoor.
France seeks Rafale clarity
The French Defence Ministry addressed the issue on Thursday, stating, “the issue of the Rafale is, of course, to primary importance to us,” and noted that they were in touch with Indian officials to gain clarity. If proven, the downing of a Rafale aircraft during the operation would mark its first combat loss in 20 years of service. While Pakistan claims to have downed six Indian aircraft, India has firmly rejected this figure.
Citing Indian and Western sources, New York Times journalist Mujib Mashal reported that the actual number of Indian combat losses likely ranges between two and three.
Reddy concluded by urging the government to provide clarity on all major developments related to the Indo-Pak conflict, saying, “The GoI must be more transparent on every significant event that took place throughout the Indo-Pak operation.”
