"Congress behaved very childishly during Operation Sindoor": Sharmistha Mukherjee
Gurugram, June 27
Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, on Saturday said the opposition should have stood firmly behind the government during Operation Sindoor, asserting that matters of national security should rise above party politics.
Speaking on the opposition's response to Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha Mukherjee told ANI in an exclusive interview, "When Operation Sindoor happened, the whole of the opposition should have stood beside him (PM Modi) because it's not a question of party politics. But I think the Congress behaved very childishly, and the Congress leadership went after one of their own leaders, Shashi Tharoor, which was, I think, extremely mean and immature."
She said political parties have every right to question the government, but issues relating to national security require a united approach.
"So when a question of national interest comes, I think everybody should stand together. Of course, this is the legitimate right of the opposition to criticise, to question the government and which they should do so, which the BJP also did. So that is not the question. But when the question of national security comes, when there is a threat to national security, national integrity, then I think everybody should stand with the government," she said.
Sharmistha Mukherjee also said that while she personally disagreed with some of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy decisions, democratic debate should be balanced with support for the government on issues concerning the national interest.
"No government is perfect. So there are many of his (PM Modi) policy decisions which I also personally do not agree with. That's a legitimate part of the democratic discourse. There is nothing wrong in that. But also side by side, the opposition should be magnanimous enough, which the BJP was also not. When they were in opposition, they were also not magnanimous enough. If not openly praise, support the government in its certain endeavours, and especially when national interests are concerned," she said.
Operation Sindoor were carried out to avenge the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to eliminate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders involved in planning and executing terrorist attacks in India.
Indian Armed Forces successfully struck nine terror targets, four in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), using special precision munitions in a coordinated operation.
The operation was jointly carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the mobilisation of assets and troops.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate her balanced view. It's true that opposition has the right to question policies, but during military operations, we need to show a united front. However, let's not forget that the BJP too was not always magnanimous when in opposition. That said, 'Operation Sindoor' seems to have been well-executed. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Interesting perspective from a daughter of a former President. But I think the opposition should still hold the government accountable, even during operations. Blind support isn't always the answer. That said, targeting one's own leader like Tharoor does seem petty.
Whether it's BJP or Congress, our politicians need to grow up. National security is not a joke. Operation Sindoor showed our armed forces' capability, and the opposition should have been supportive. Sharmistha ji is speaking the bitter truth. Abki baar, nation first!
As an outsider looking in, this debate seems familiar. Every country faces the same dilemma - how to balance security and democracy. India's operation against JeM and LeT targets was justified after Pahalgam. But perhaps the real issue is the lack of trust between government and opposition.
I wish more politicians from all parties had this maturity. Sharmistha Mukherjee is right - we need to separate politics from national security. But she also rightly points out that both parties have been guilty of playing politics. Time for all sides to introspect. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.