The political tussle over India’s 'Operation Sindoor' is intensifying. Karnataka Congress legislator Kothur Manjunath casts doubt over the military action, stating, 'It was just for show, neither delivering justice nor offering genuine solace to the victims of the Pehlagam attack.'
Resonating with frustration, Manjunath remarked, 'Nothing really happened. Just sent a few planes up for display. How does this bring justice to the 26-28 lives lost in Pehlagam? How does it lessen the grief of those women? Is this how we honor them?'
Questions Raised on Government Claims
Following Operation Sindoor on May 7, the Indian Government asserted the destruction of nine major terror launchpads in Pakistan, eliminating around 100 terrorists. Yet, opposition and now Congress legislator Manjunath views this assertion with skepticism.
Manjunath questioned the certainty of confirmation regarding the death of terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pehlagam Basaran Valley incident, asking, 'Is it confirmed that 100 terrorists were killed? What are their identities? Were these the same terrorists behind the April 22 attack in Basaran Valley?'
He further questioned, 'Was it verified that 100 terrorists were killed? Who were the terrorists entering our borders? What are their identities? Why was there a security lapse at the border? How did they escape? We must identify and eradicate the root causes, branches, and stems of terrorism.' He termed this operation a complete intelligence failure.
'Inconsistent Reports, Whom to Trust?'
The legislator also raised concerns about media reports stating, 'All TV channels narrate different stories. Some say it happened here, others say elsewhere. No one gives a clear account of who was actually killed, where, and in what numbers. No clear statement from the government.'
He also remarked it as a significant intelligence failure, stating that unless the roots of terrorism are destroyed, solutions are implausible. Manjunath opposed wars against civilians anywhere, be it Karnataka, Pakistan, China, or Bangladesh, saying, 'Do you know how those women witnessed their husbands being killed? This action doesn’t ease their grief or provide a solution.'
India's Response: Only Terrorists Targeted, No Harm to Civilians
The Indian Government asserts that only terrorist locations were targeted without harming civilians. This action responded to drone attacks from Pakistan and the Pehlagam terrorist attack that killed 25 Indians and 1 Nepali citizen.
