Controversy erupted in the Lok Sabha during the debate on Operation Sindoor, as portions of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s speech were expunged from the official record after he launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of prioritising image over national security.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Modi bore responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, claiming he had the “blood of Pahalgam victims” on his hands and used the Air Force to protect his image. The Speaker ordered these remarks to be removed from the record under Rule 380 of the Lok Sabha’s procedural rules, which allows for expunging unparliamentary statements.
Gandhi also questioned the duration of Operation Sindoor, which reportedly lasted just 22 minutes, and challenged the Prime Minister to publicly refute US President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire.
“If he has the courage of Indira Gandhi, let him say in this House that Donald Trump is lying,” Gandhi said.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha further criticised the government’s messaging to Pakistan: “You told them you won’t escalate, you won’t hit military targets. You surrendered in 30 minutes,” he claimed, referencing comments made by the Defence Minister.
In a separate allegation, Gandhi accused Trump of diplomatic misconduct for inviting Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir—alleged by Gandhi to be the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack—for lunch, while stating that PM Modi remained silent on the matter.
Apart from Gandhi, remarks by several other MPs were also expunged:
- Saayoni Ghosh (TMC) referred to PM Modi as a “joker” and likened Indira Gandhi to a “monkey”
- A Raja (DMK) used words like “tyranny,” “dictatorship,” and “ashamed”
- Engineer Rashid (Independent, Baramulla) made a controversial Hindi remark involving the word “died”
- Praniti Shinde (Congress) reportedly called Operation Sindoor a “tamasha” (drama), prompting PM Modi to respond that such a remark was like “pouring acid on the wounds” of those killed
The fiery exchanges marked an intensifying political clash as the Rajya Sabha prepares to resume the debate on Operation Sindoor today, following marathon sessions in both Houses.
The operation was launched following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, and has since become a flashpoint in the battle between the ruling NDA and the Opposition over national security, foreign policy, and political accountability.
