Congress MP Gogoi questions GoI’s ‘lack of clarity’ on China, possible fighter jet losses; draws fire from ruling benches

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor took a tense turn as GoI Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi clashed over the Opposition’s tone towards the armed forces.

After Gogoi criticised the government’s “lack of clarity” on China and raised questions about possible fighter jet losses, Lalan Singh accused him of disrespecting the Indian military. “I expected an intelligent, well-researched speech from Gogoi, but all he did was play politics. Not once did he appreciate our armed forces. Do you not value our soldiers?” Singh asked in the House.

Singh also took pride in Prime Minister Modi’s April 24 speech in Madhubani, Bihar, where he first addressed the Pahalgam terror attack. “The PM spoke in English not for any elite audience, but to send a strong global message—that India will not bow to terrorism,” he said.

The BJP MPs accused the Opposition of selectively questioning the government while ignoring the military’s success in destroying nine terror camps and eliminating over 100 militants. Singh reminded the House of UPA’s “soft response” to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, quoting former President Pranab Mukherjee’s book to back his point.

Meanwhile, Opposition MPs defended Gogoi, saying raising questions does not amount to anti-nationalism. “Blind praise without scrutiny is dangerous in a democracy,” one Congress leader told reporters outside Parliament.