Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday hit out at the opposition for questioning the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor, calling their demand for accountability on terrorist casualties “shameful.”
“The Prime Minister took revenge for those whose ‘sindoor’ was removed. At this time, the opposition is asking how many terrorists were killed? They should be ashamed. Instead, they should stand with our jawans and celebrate their bravery and valour,” said Shinde in a statement to media.
Shinde lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive action following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, saw India’s armed forces target and destroy multiple terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing over 100 terrorists.
“The courage shown by PM Modi to act against Pakistan and its terror camps deserves recognition. Our Army, Navy, and Air Force must be celebrated,” Shinde added.
He also criticised the opposition’s silence during past crises, referencing the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and asked:
“When the 26/11 attacks happened, why didn’t anyone take action then? Why did they not stand with the people of the country?”
Meanwhile, protests erupted in New Delhi’s Okhla area, where AAP workers staged a demonstration condemning the government’s decision to agree to a ceasefire with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.
Protesters carried banners reading:
“PoK ka chhodda mauka, Modi ka desh ka dhokha”
(“Opportunity lost on taking PoK, Modi’s betrayal of the nation”).
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accused PM Modi of wasting a historic opportunity:
“Our forces risked their lives. Pakistan was on the back foot. This was the time to reclaim PoK. Agreeing to a ceasefire is betrayal.”
In a televised address on May 12, PM Modi defended the operation and the strategic restraint that followed:
“After the 2016 surgical strike and 2019 air strike, Operation Sindoor is a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism. We’ve suspended the Indus Water Treaty. Water and blood cannot flow together.”
PM Modi asserted that future dialogue with Pakistan would only be based on two points:
- Ending terrorism
- Vacating PoJK, which he called “illegally occupied.”