Congress has intensified its call for a special session of Parliament after Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan acknowledged the loss of Indian Air Force jets during Operation Sindoor, the military engagement with Pakistan in May 2025. The opposition party asserts that the government’s lack of transparency on the operation’s outcomes undermines democratic accountability.
General Chauhan, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, confirmed that India suffered aerial losses during the four-day conflict initiated on May 7. While he refrained from specifying the number of aircraft lost, he emphasized the importance of understanding and rectifying the tactical errors that led to these losses. He dismissed Pakistan’s claims of downing six Indian jets, including Rafale fighters, as “absolutely incorrect.”
Following these revelations, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special parliamentary session to discuss the implications of Operation Sindoor. Kharge highlighted that Pakistan had already held parliamentary discussions on the conflict and suggested that India should demonstrate similar transparency and seriousness.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s handling of information dissemination, stating that opposition leaders were not adequately briefed on the operation’s developments. He emphasized the necessity for parliamentary oversight to ensure that national security decisions are made with comprehensive scrutiny and input from all political stakeholders.
The conflict, triggered by a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in 26 fatalities, saw India launching airstrikes targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. General Chauhan noted that after initial setbacks, the IAF adapted its tactics, conducting deeper and more precise strikes within Pakistani territory. He asserted that these operations were carefully calibrated to avoid crossing Pakistan’s nuclear thresholds, maintaining a conventional military engagement.
Despite the ceasefire brokered on May 10, questions remain regarding the transparency of the government’s communication about the conflict’s outcomes. Opposition leaders argue that the public and Parliament have a right to be informed about the strategic decisions and consequences of military operations, especially those with significant geopolitical implications.
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