Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has stood firm amid growing criticism over his remarks on Operation Sindoor, saying he has nothing to apologise for. Chavan rejected demands for an apology and insisted that he had not made any incorrect statement while speaking on Wednesday.
Prithviraj Chavan Refuses to Apologise
Responding to the backlash, Chavan made it clear that he would not apologise for his comments.
“I will not say sorry… haven’t said anything wrong and have nothing to apologise for. I don’t want to say anything more now… but I will not apologise. There is no need… I did not make any wrong comment,” Chavan said.
The controversy began after Chavan spoke at an event in Pune earlier this week, where he claimed that India had suffered a setback on the first day of Operation Sindoor, a military engagement with Pakistan in May.
What was Prithviraj Chavan Statement About Operation Sindoor?
Chavan alleged that Indian fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan on the opening day of the operation, which was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
“On the first day of Operation Sindoor, we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” as per report Chavan said.
His remarks triggered strong political reactions, especially from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Background of the Military Conflict During Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor followed Indian airstrikes on terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials had stated that more than 100 terrorists were killed during these strikes.
The military confrontation continued for three days and came to an end on May 10 after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart seeking a ceasefire understanding.
BJP Attacks Congress Leadership
The BJP sharply criticised Chavan’s comments and used the opportunity to target the Congress leadership. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of encouraging such views by failing to take action against party members.
“Insulting the Army has become the hallmark of the Congress… This is not just Chavan’s statement. Rahul Gandhi has made similar statements… all this reflects Gandhi’s mindset, which is why neither the Congress nor he acts against such leaders. These statements reveal their anti-army mentality,” Poonawalla said.
Congress Distances Itself From Prithviraj Chavan Remarks
The Congress party, however, tried to separate itself from Chavan’s statements. Jharkhand Lok Sabha MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said the party fully supports the armed forces and the government’s actions against terrorism.
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