Political Storm Brews Ahead of Parliament Debate
A political firestorm has erupted ahead of the much-anticipated Parliament debate on Operation Sindoor, with sharp exchanges between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress veteran P Chidambaram. The controversy began after Chidambaram’s recent interview, in which he raised probing questions about the Centre’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military counterstrike. His comments have drawn fierce criticism from the ruling BJP, which accuses the Congress of consistently taking a lenient stance towards Pakistan.
Chidambaram Defends Remarks, Slams Selective Quoting
Addressing the backlash, Chidambaram defended his statements, accusing BJP leaders and social media trolls of distorting his words by selectively quoting from his interview. “Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation,” the former Home Minister said. “The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour.”
Chidambaram’s interview with The Quint had sparked the row. In it, he questioned the lack of transparency following the Pahalgam terror attack, asking whether the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had identified the terrorists. “Have they identified the terrorists? Where they came from? I mean, for all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do you assume they came from Pakistan? There’s no evidence of that,” he stated.
BJP Accuses Congress of Undermining National Interests
The BJP responded swiftly and sharply. Senior party leader Amit Malviya posted excerpts from Chidambaram’s interview on social media, accusing the Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative. “Once again, the Congress rushes to give a clean chit to Pakistan – this time after the Pahalgam terror attack,” Malviya said. He added that Congress leaders repeatedly sound more like “Islamabad’s defence lawyers” than India’s opposition, especially during times of cross-border conflict.
P. Chidambaram, former UPA-era Home Minister and the original proponent of the infamous “Saffron Terror” theory, covers himself with glory yet again:
“Have they (NIA) identified the terrorists or where they came from? For all we know, they could be homegrown terrorists. Why do… pic.twitter.com/c32I1KzqOg
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 27, 2025
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla echoed Malviya’s sentiments, stating, “From 26/11 to the Surgical Strikes to Pahalgam, Congress ka haath, Pakistan ke saath.” He accused the Congress of routinely doubting the armed forces and undermining national security.
Operation Sindoor: Losses and Lack of Disclosure?
In his interview, Chidambaram also criticized the government’s silence on the casualties India may have sustained during Operation Sindoor, the military operation launched in response to the Pahalgam killings, which claimed 26 lives. “They are hiding the losses. In a war, losses will occur on both sides. I understand that India would have suffered losses. Be upfront,” he said.
Drawing a historical parallel, the Congress MP referenced Winston Churchill’s transparency during World War II, suggesting that democracies function better when leaders speak candidly. “They think they can put a large shroud on Operation Sindoor. It won’t work,” he warned.
Congress Questions PM’s Silence, Trump’s Claimed Role
Chidambaram also raised questions about the Prime Minister’s reluctance to address the details of the operation in Parliament, asking why the government appeared unwilling to hold a comprehensive debate. “Why is the Prime Minister not speaking on Operation Sindoor? Why is there reluctance to debate in the temple of democracy?” he said, emphasizing the role of Parliament in maintaining transparency on national security.
The Congress leader also highlighted the international dimension, referring to former US President Donald Trump’s claim that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. While Pakistan has supported Trump’s version of events, the Indian government has refrained from publicly acknowledging any external involvement. Chidambaram asked, “If Trump had a role, why not admit it?”
Debate in Parliament Likely to Be Tense
With Parliament set to debate Operation Sindoor, Chidambaram’s remarks have clearly added fuel to an already charged atmosphere. The BJP is expected to use his statements to counterattack the Congress, framing them as evidence of weak national resolve. Meanwhile, the Congress will likely press the government on issues of accountability, transparency, and the strategic direction of India’s cross-border responses.
As the two sides dig in for a heated discussion, the Operation Sindoor debate may go beyond military strategy to highlight deep political divisions on how India handles terrorism and its complex relationship with Pakistan.
