NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday latched on to Chief of Defence Workers Normal Anil Chauhan’s remarks in a bid to nook the Centre over alleged lack of fighter jets throughout the four-day battle with Pakistan throughout Operation Sindoor.In a press convention, Telangana minister and Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed that Normal Chauhan confirmed that the Rafale plane was shot down and the federal government shouldn’t deny this.“We achieved victory in 4 day conflict. However because it seems very clearly Rafale fighter plane have been downed within the 4 day operations. And when Rahul Gandhiji first pointed it out simply as a query to the exterior affairs minister it was very weird and unusual that the ruling get together functionists in any respect degree accused him of not being patriotic,” Reddy mentioned.“Now, at present, an hour again, the Chief of Protection (CDS), Normal Anil Chauhan, has confirmed that Rafale plane have been introduced down within the four-day operation. I have to additionally quote right here what precisely Air Marshal Bharti, the DG Air Operation, mentioned within the DGMO briefing. He mentioned that losses are regular in a fight. The targets of the entire operation have been achieved, however all of the pilots have come house. We’re very joyful about that — that the targets have been achieved and all of the pilots have come house. However the truth that the fighter plane have been down is one thing that must be advised. The Authorities of India ought to cease denying that, now that the CDS himself has talked about it and, not directly, Air Marshal Bharti had talked about it in his briefing together with the DGMO,” he added.In the meantime, Congress chief Pawan Khera demanded “robust solutions” from the Centre on “robust questions.” “Congress is constantly asking questions like when will the terrorists of Pahalgam assault get caught, who purchased RDX in Pulwama, and what have been the situations for ceasefire with Pakistan?… We would like robust solutions to the robust questions being requested,” Khera mentioned.“Underneath whose stress was the ceasefire achieved? Whether or not justice was served to the girl who misplaced their husbands in Pahalgam…What have been the teachings learnt from this (Operation Sindoor), and the CDS additionally mentioned that it is very important study classes from this. Now, at the very least the BJP will be unable to name those that ask questions anti-national,” he added.
What CDS mentioned
Chatting with Bloomberg on losses throughout Operation Sindoor, CDS Chahuan rejected Pakistan’s declare that 6 jets have been shot down however mentioned that throughout the course of the operation the Indian forces had “rectified” some “tactical errors.”“The nice half is that we’re in a position to perceive the tactical mistake which we made, treatment it, rectify it, after which implement it once more after two days and flew all our jets once more, concentrating on at lengthy vary,” Chauhan mentioned.Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy requested the federal government on what number of Rafale plane have been shot down.“The troopers of this (Secunderabad ) Cantonment participated within the conflict. The conflict planes being manufactured in Telangana upheld respect for our nation. Rafale plane introduced by Narendra Modi have been shot down by Pakistan. Narendra Modi ought to reply what number of Rafale plane have been shot down by Pakistan throughout the current conflict. You give us the account, ” Reddy had mentioned.Rahul had additionally questioned exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar on what number of Indian plane have been misplaced throughout the operation.“EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t simply telling — it’s damning. So I’ll ask once more: What number of Indian plane did we lose as a result of Pakistan knew?” Gandhi posted on X whereas resharing an earlier put up of himself.He added, “This wasn’t a lapse. It was a criminal offense. And the nation deserves the reality.”On Could 17, Rahul had shared an undated video of Jaishankar the place the minister is heard saying that India had warned Pakistan earlier than launching strikes on terror infrastructure.“Informing Pakistan at the beginning of our assault was a criminal offense. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it.” He additionally requested, “Who authorised it? What number of plane did our air power lose because of this?” Gandhi wrote.The ministry of exterior affairs refuted Rahul’s declare, calling it a “misrepresentation of info.”The MEA mentioned the federal government had warned Pakistan within the “early part after Operation Sindoor’s graduation” and never earlier than it started. It clarified that Jaishankar had mentioned, “We had warned Pakistan at the beginning, which is clearly the early part after Op Sindoor’s graduation.”“That is being falsely represented as being earlier than the graduation. This utter misrepresentation of info is being known as out,” the ministry added.Operation Sindoor was launched on Could 7, concentrating on terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the lethal Pahalgam terror assault on April 22.