As political tensions rise ahead of the general elections in Bihar, opposition leaders have escalated their criticism of the BJP over what they allege is the politicisation of Operation Sindoor—India’s May 7 military operation targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and areas under its illegal occupation.
Mamata leads, others follow
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was among the first to raise concerns. On Thursday, she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of using Operation Sindoor for political mileage, despite her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), standing with the Union government against cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Raut slams PM Modi
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut followed suit with a fierce attack on the Prime Minister. “Our soldiers carried out Operation Sindoor, but there’s now a race to claim credit. The PM is leading that race,” Raut said. He also criticised the symbolic use of sindoor (vermilion) during political rallies, calling it “an insult” to its cultural significance.
In a biting remark, Raut mocked the BJP for not apprehending the six terrorists linked to the Pahalgam attack, saying, “Maybe one day we’ll get a BJP press note saying they’ve joined the party.”
Opposition demands for special parliamentary session
Raut revealed that opposition parties have united to request a special session of Parliament under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. TMC MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Sagarika Ghose echoed this sentiment, stating, “Operation Sindoor is a military operation, not a campaign event. Politicising it is deplorable.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and party president Mallikarjun Kharge have also demanded a special session. They argue that Parliament should revisit the 1994 resolution on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and reaffirm the country’s unified stand on terrorism. “We need a unanimous resolution to send a strong global message,” Ramesh stated, lamenting the government’s silence and lack of serious discussion.
With growing criticism from across the opposition spectrum, Operation Sindoor has become a major flashpoint in the ongoing election campaign.