Operation Sindoor: Congress renews 'India lost jets' claim, says 'Modi government compromised national security'
NEW DELHI:
Congress
on Sunday latched on to the remarks of Captain Shiv Kumar to rake up its attack on the government, accusing it of failing to disclose aircraft losses during
Operation Sindoor
.
In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera cited India's defence attaché to Indonesia and claimed that "Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan only because of the constraint given by the political leadership.
"
"In another shocking revelation by Capt. Shiv Kumar, it has emerged that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7, 2025, during its targeting of Pakistan's terror-linked sites — only because of the constraint given by the political leadership," Khera said.
"This is a direct indictment of the Modi government, particularly defence minister Rajnath Singh. No wonder they are ducking our demand for a Special Session of Parliament like the plague.
They know they've compromised national security, and they're terrified of what the Congress Party will expose before the people of India," he added.
This comes after India's defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, reportedly said that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7 during its targeting of Pakistan's terror-linked sites. Shiv Kumar said that even though he 'may not agree that we lost so many aircraft, I do agree we did lose some aircraft.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available
Original Adidas
Shop Now
Undo
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces General Anil Chauhan categorically rejected Pakistan's claims that it had shot down six Indian warplanes during Operation Sindoor, calling the information "absolutely incorrect."
The CDS added that "what is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were being downed."
"The good part is that we were able to understand the tactical mistake we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days — and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range," General Chauhan said during an interview with Bloomberg TV when asked about Pakistan's claims.
"What is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were downed," the CDS said, adding: "Why they were downed, what mistakes were made — those are important... Numbers are not important."
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM writes to MEA after SL navy arrests 8 TN fishers
Rameswaram: Chief minister M K Stalin has sought immediate diplomatic intervention from external affairs minister S Jaishankar for the release of eight Rameswaram fishermen who were arrested by Sri Lankan navy in the early hours of Sunday. The eight were among fishermen in more than 300 boats which ventured out to sea from Rameswaram on Saturday. They were allegedly fishing near Talaimannar when they were apprehended for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), and their mechanised boat was seized. In a letter to Jaishankar, Stalin said such arrests, especially during the early days of the resumed fishing season, cause serious disruption to the lives of coastal communities. The CM called for proactive diplomatic efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The arrested fishermen — S Sesu, 39, N Annamalai, 55, N Muneeswaran, 35, V Kalyanaraman, 48, U Selvam, 28, S Syed Ibrahim, 35, K Kanthavel, 67, and B Balamurugan, 24 —were taken to the Lankan naval base at Talaimannar and are expected to be handed over to the Sri Lankan fisheries department. The seized boat is owned by Pandityammal, wife of Sesu. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo Fishermen association leader J R Jesu Raja said the fishermen did not deliberately cross into Sri Lankan waters. "This is the fourth time they have gone out since the ban ended. We want the Union govt to act decisively and not leave us to repeated protests," he said. Condemning the arrests, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss called for a structured bilateral fishing agreement, and criticised the Tamil Nadu govt for merely issuing letters to the Centre each time such incidents occur.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Advocates' role crucial in justice: CM to Bar council
1 2 Jaipur: Advocates are the backbone of the judicial system, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Sunday while addressing a delegation of the Rajasthan Bar Council. Sharma said the legal community plays a crucial role in nation building and that their dedication and service have given new dimensions to Indian justice. "Advocates are an inseparable part of our legal system. By ensuring timely justice to the underprivileged, they play a crucial role in nation-building," Sharma said. A delegation of the Rajasthan Bar Council had called on him to thanks him for the Rs 7.5 crore one-time assistance allocated to the Bar Council in the 2024–25 state budget. "Rajasthan Bar Council has been instrumental in implementing legal reforms, promoting legal education, and providing legal aid—these efforts are strengthening the state's judicial fabric," Sharma added. He also emphasised the state govt's commitment to improving judicial infrastructure. "We are working in a phased manner to enhance facilities across courts in Rajasthan," he said. Sharma encouraged advocates to contribute beyond their practice. "Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspired the country through campaigns like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, advocates too can play a key role in steering society in a positive direction."
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Govt's failure to move beyond MoUs has left industrial engine sputtering'
Tamil Nadu has long been heralded as the industrial heartbeat of South India. From automobiles and electronics to textiles and petrochemicals, our state has stood as a symbol of innovation, enterprise, and economic resilience. Such a legacy demands vision, discipline, and above all, execution. As a man who steered Tamil Nadu's economic growth earlier, I am disturbed by this dangerous erosion in our industrial momentum under the current govt. Earlier this year, Chief Minister M K Stalin proclaimed that his govt facilitated industrial investments worth ₹6.64 lakh crore. A staggering figure at first glance. But scratch the surface, and the truth is far less flattering. As per the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Reserve Bank of India (Q4 2023-2024), the actual realised investment is more than a quarter of that amount. The remainder exists only in the form of MoUs and announcements. In the past four years, several flagship projects that could have reshaped our economic geography remain in planning purgatory. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC), for instance, was conceived as part of the East Coast Economic Corridor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo The ambitious 590 km stretch was meant to revitalise 23 districts through better port connectivity and industrial expansion. Despite a ₹3,500 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank, the project has seen sluggish progress. Tenders such as EPC-15 and EPC-07, floated in 2020 and 2021, witnessed delays in finalisation. As of today, less than 10% of the proposed road length has seen tangible work. This corridor could have brought prosperity to our southernmost districts, but sadly, it remains largely on paper. The Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) was envisioned to bridge Tamil Nadu's northern districts with India's tech capital, Bengaluru. A special purpose vehicle was created, and a master plan for the Ponneri node was drafted. Although master planning has concluded, core infrastructure remains incomplete and major investments are yet to be grounded. Billed as Tamil Nadu's answer to Gujarat's Dholera and Maharashtra's Aurangabad corridors, the Coimbatore-Salem-Chennai High-Tech Corridor was supposed to be our gateway to next-generation manufacturing. Today, industrial parks such as Sipcot Krishnagiri remain underutilised. With five strategic nodes — Chennai, Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli — the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor was launched to position the state as a defence manufacturing hub. MoUs worth ₹11,794 crore were signed, but only ₹3,861 crore (33%) has been actualised. The fallout of such inertia is not just economic, it is human. In terms of employment, based on standard projections, Tamil Nadu could have generated more than 400,000 direct jobs had these corridors progressed as intended. Tamil Nadu is increasingly losing out to more agile states that offer clearer approvals, proactive governance, and visible outcomes. Our state's Human Development Index tells its own story. While Chennai stands at 0.841, districts such as Nagapattinam lag at 0.699. Industrial corridors, if executed properly, would have reduced this disparity. Instead, the gap is widening. Tamil Nadu's Gross State Domestic Product for the financial year 2024-25 is ₹17.23 lakh crore, with manufacturing contributing approximately 35%. Yet the foundation of that industry, sectors like logistics, warehousing, and transport, are underperforming. The Coimbatore Multi-Modal Logistics Park has faced slippage in timelines. The warehousing policy promised in 2023 is still awaiting approval. In its tenure, the AIADMK hosted two successful Global Investors Meets in 2015 and 2019, collectively drawing more than ₹3 lakh crore in investment. The govt facilitated land acquisition, sped up clearances, and ensured that MoUs translated into operational businesses. It is not too late to change course. But it requires political will and administrative discipline. The AIADMK proposes a three-pronged approach to industrial renewal. The first is time-bound corridor execution. Every corridor must be governed by a Chief Minister-chaired task force with quarterly targets. For CKIC, tenders must be finalised and project design groundwork started post mid-2026, with a deliverable milestone of 100 km of road by mid-2027. For the CBIC, fast-track plans to operationalise the Ponneri node, aiming for readiness by the first quarter of 2027. Tamil Nadu must also move beyond the Chennai-centric model. By 2027, the AIADMK proposes to develop 25 district-level MSME clusters with pre-zoned, plug-and-play infrastructure. Focus areas include technology and electronics in Madurai and Sivaganga; defence manufacturing in Salem and Hosur; and agro-processing and food tech in the Cauvery Delta and southern districts. To improve transparency, a digitised, single-window clearance system with real-time tracking is proposed along with a dynamic land bank registry to help industries locate viable plots and a RERA-style industrial oversight authority to audit project progress and ensure accountability. Industrial development is not a vanity project. It is an unending commitment to economic equity, youth employment, and regional prosperity. The DMK govt's failure to move beyond MoUs has left our industrial engine sputtering. Our entrepreneurs wait. Our youth emigrate. Our investors look elsewhere. The AIADMK is committed to changing this. We believe Tamil Nadu can — and must — lead India's next phase of industrial growth. It is time to move from paper corridors to real factories, from rhetoric to results. (The writer is Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) Email your feedback to
