New Delhi, India | July 29, 2025: A fresh political controversy has erupted in India’s Parliament, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut sharply criticizing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent statements on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the Lok Sabha. Raut accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of a “serious admission” and abandoning its long-held position on reclaiming the disputed territory.
During a press conference in the national capital today, Raut lashed out at Singh’s remarks made on Monday during the debate on “Operation Sindoor.” “Rajnath Singh yesterday said in Lok Sabha that our intention was not to take PoK. This is a very serious thing. The BJP had repeatedly stated in the past that it would take PoK,” Raut asserted, highlighting a perceived shift in the government’s stance.
He further stated that the Defence Minister’s parliamentary statement should be condemned. “It is clear that this government does not want to fight with Pakistan; they don’t want to make ‘Akhand Bharat’ and not take back territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. This statement should be condemned,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader emphasized.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his opening address during the Lok Sabha debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and “Operation Sindoor,” had rejected the Opposition’s charge that the operation was aimed at capturing territory. “The objective of Operation Sindoor was not to cross the border or capture the territory; it was to eliminate terror nurseries which Pakistan had nurtured for years, and provide justice to the innocent families who lost their loved ones in cross-border attacks,” Singh had clarified.
He also reiterated that “Operation Sindoor” has merely been “paused” and would resume if any “misadventure” occurs from Pakistan’s side in the future. Singh had informed the Lower House that on May 10, following intense Indian Air Force strikes on multiple airfields in Pakistan, Pakistan admitted defeat and offered to cease hostilities. This offer was accepted with the caveat that the operation was only paused, not ended.
The BJP has historically maintained a strong stance on PoK, with various party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, repeatedly affirming that PoK is an integral part of India and would be reclaimed. This historical position is rooted in a unanimous 1994 parliamentary resolution asserting India’s sovereignty over the entire state of Jammu & Kashmir. Raut’s comments underscore the Opposition’s attempt to highlight a perceived contradiction between the BJP’s past rhetoric and the Defence Minister’s recent statements.