On Monday in the Lok Sabha, a significant discussion began regarding 'Operation Sindhurakshak' against terrorists in Pakistan. Initiated by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, he detailed the military operation. Singh stated that the Indian Army successfully hit all its intended targets, declaring the operation a complete success. Criticizing opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh remarked, "He never asked us how many enemy aircraft were shot down."
This remark referred to the ongoing debate where Rahul Gandhi and the opposition continuously questioned the damage faced by India's fighter jets during the operation. Gandhi has previously raised concerns over alleged damage to the Indian Air Force, especially following a seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Indian Navy Captain Shiv Kumar mentioned the loss of "some aircraft" during Operation Sindhurakshak.
Read Here: Parliament Monsoon Session Live: 'Ultimately, the result matters... Yes, Operation Sindhurakshak was successful,' said Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in the Lok Sabha.
General Anil Chauhan Acknowledged the Losses
This statement sparked controversy, but the Indian embassy later clarified that the statement was "misrepresented" and "misreported." In the meantime, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, during an interview at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May, dismissed Pakistan's Prime Minister's claim of dropping six Indian fighter jets, including four Rafale.
General Chauhan remarked, "This claim is entirely false.” He further stated, “The real issue is not how many jets were downed but rather why they were downed. Where did the error occur, and what can we learn from it is more important." He emphasized that analysis takes precedence over numbers.
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Army Chief Mentioned Initial Losses
In another interview with Reuters, General Chauhan acknowledged that India faced losses in the initial phase of Operation Sindhurakshak on May 7. He pointed out, "There were initial losses, but it’s crucial to understand why they occurred and what steps were taken after."
