Govt Showed No Political Will’: Rahul Gandhi Says India Lost Jets During Op Sindoor Due to ‘Tied Hands’

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the central government during the Lok Sabha debate on ‘Operation Sindoor,’ alleging that India lost fighter jets during the conflict with Pakistan because the government lacked “political will” and deliberately chose not to escalate.

In a fiery speech, Gandhi claimed that the Indian leadership effectively “tied the hands” of its pilots by instructing them not to target Pakistan’s air defense systems. “India attacked Pakistan and told your pilots not to attack their air defense system. Meaning you tied their hands behind their back. This is why we lost jets,” he stated.

Gandhi further alleged that the Government of India (GOI) communicated its non-escalatory stance to Pakistan almost immediately. “The DGMO of India was told by the GOI to ask for a ceasefire at 1:35 itself. You told the Pakistanis exactly what to do,” he said. He characterized the move as a sign of weakness and a quick capitulation.

“Imagine, two people are fighting and one hits the other and then says- see I hit you and now do not escalate. So you showed to Pakistan that there is no political will… India showed immediate surrender in 30 minutes,” Gandhi added. He also claimed the government assured Pakistan that no military infrastructure would be targeted during the operation.

The Congress leader’s remarks added fuel to an already heated debate in Parliament over the government’s handling of national security following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military action against Pakistan