Modi says opposition 'shot itself in the foot' by demanding debate on Operation Sindoor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a BJP‑led NDA parliamentary meeting on Aug 5, sharply criticized the opposition for insisting on a Lok Sabha debate over Operation Sindoor, declaring the move a strategic mistake.

Sources said he accused the opposition of having “shot itself in the foot” and being “thrashed badly” during the Monsoon Session’s special discussion on India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Modi asked rhetorically, “Where else will you find such an opposition that hurts its own foot by demanding a debate on Operation Sindoor?” The PM framed this as a self-inflicted setback for the opposition camp.

During the meet, BJP MPs applauded Modi’s leadership in Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 terror attack that left 26 civilians dead.

Modi was felicitated by NDA members amid chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' for his decisive actions.

The prime minister’s remarks came amid mounting pressure in Parliament. In the Lok Sabha debate, Modi defended India’s conduct, stating nearly 1,000 Pakistan missiles and drones were intercepted in May and denying any foreign influence on the ceasefire decision.

He emphasized that no global leader asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, reiterating a posture of national autonomy.

Senior leaders of the opposition challenged Modi’s narrative. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, argued the government lacked political will, accused ministers of using crass comparisons to historic conflicts like the 1971 war, and lamented the absence of condemnation for Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack from international actors.

He framed the debate as an attempt to assert Indian resolve and questioned offensive reliance on social media channels like Trump’s Truth Social for strategic communication.

Kamal Nath, former Madhya Pradesh CM, called Modi’s response “off the mark” and criticized it as a diversionary tactic, highlighting that pressing issues like farmers’ distress and unemployment in Madhya Pradesh went unaddressed during the debate. Nath noted, “Despite repeated questioning, the PM unnecessarily invoked Jawaharlal Nehru 14 times.”

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders echoed these concerns. Saayoni Ghosh and Sagarika Ghose accused Modi’s team of letting foreign narratives, including those promoted by former President Trump, overshadow India’s strategic message on the global stage.

They said India lost the “battle of narratives” by failing to project its perspective adequately.

Meanwhile, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta took to social media to escalate the tone, accusing opposition parties of siding with “anti-national forces” and commending Modi for the swift and precise execution of Operation Sindoor — calling it a “befitting reply to Pakistan.”

The PM doubled down on this assertion, calling for unity in discourse and dismissing demands for debate as counterproductive.

He warned that such calls had allowed the opposition to be publicly discredited during a session when legislative business had stalled due to protests over Bihar’s electoral roll revision process.

By the close of the meeting, the NDA resolution praised Modi’s leadership and reaffirmed the government's resolve against terrorism, citing national security achievements and outreach to foreign legislatures as key outcomes.

Internal sources said the opposition's insistence on the debate had unintentionally reinforced the government’s narrative of strength and decisiveness.