A major political dispute has flared up following contentious statements made by former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior Congress figure, Prithviraj Chavan, regarding a past military operation. His comments have drawn fierce backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which has accused the opposition of disrespecting the nation's armed forces.
What Did Prithviraj Chavan Claim?
Addressing an event in Pune, Prithviraj Chavan made startling assertions about Operation Sindoor. He stated that India faced a "complete defeat" on the very first day of the operation, which dates back to December 7. Chavan elaborated that during a half-hour aerial engagement, Indian aircraft were shot down, leading to the grounding of the Air Force.
He further alleged that due to threats from Pakistan, no planes could take off safely from key airbases including those in Gwalior, Bathinda, and Sirsa. The Congress leader also confined the scope of the operation to aerial and missile warfare, emphasizing there was no movement of ground forces. This led him to question the rationale behind maintaining a 12 lakh-strong army for such conflict scenarios.
BJP's Sharp Retort and Accusations
The reaction from the BJP was swift and severe. Party MP Brijmohan Agrawal condemned Chavan's statements, labeling them an insult to the nation and the armed forces. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla echoed this sentiment, describing the remarks as "shocking".
Poonawalla launched a broader attack on the Congress party, accusing it of a consistent pattern of belittling military operations and personnel. He invoked a Hindi phrase, "Sena ka apman is Congress ki pehchaan" (Disrespecting the army is Congress's identity), suggesting this was not an isolated incident but part of the party's character.
The Lingering Political Fallout
This incident has reignited a familiar and heated political debate concerning national security and political discourse. The BJP has successfully framed the controversy as part of a larger narrative where the Congress is perceived to be undermining military achievements and morale.
For the Congress, Chavan's comments present a significant challenge, forcing the party to either defend its senior leader's perspective or distance itself from the remarks to avoid further political damage. The episode underscores the highly sensitive nature of discussions around military operations in India's political landscape, where statements are quickly amplified and can lead to major partisan clashes.
The controversy continues to dominate political discussions, highlighting the deep divisions in how national security events are interpreted and politicized by rival parties.
