Key Points

Speaking with ANI, he also slammed the Opposition for criticising the Centre's handling of Operation Sindoor.

"There are certain sections and certain individuals who can't digest the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) doing well. And I understand where that's coming from also. It's coming from a very deeply rooted entitled space that firstly, how can he be the prime minister? Then how can he (PM Modi) do well? And how can he perform better on national security? It's not going to change. I don't see that changing," Deora said.

Deora also slammed the opposition for not maintaining a consistent stance of support for the government during Operation Sindoor. Deora stated that the opposition initially supported the government's decision to retaliate against Pakistan but later shifted to advocating for de-escalation. This inconsistency, he believes, prevented them from gaining points in the public domain.

"I think the opposition blew it on (Operation) Sindoor. I think that they, certain sections of the Opposition, started by saying, 'We are with the government, retaliate, we support you.' When the conflict began, those sections started saying de-escalate. I mean, the Karnataka chief minister said, we don't need a war. We should not have a war with Pakistan, something to that effect. And then it quickly went into just core political points," Deora said.

"If they had stayed the course... I think the opposition would have gained some points in the public domain," he said.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed in the name of religion by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Indian Armed Forces conducted a series of targetedmilitary strikes and destroyed terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India also repelled subsequent Pakistani escalation and pounded its airbases.

Opposition parties have slammed the government over US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. They have also questioned the government over the timing of the ceasefire. The government has categorically stated that the cessation of hostilities took place after Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart.

Deora, who previously served in Congress, claimed that the party's human resource management has collapsed.

"The human resource management of the Congress party was world-class back in the day. Its ability to manage, retain, and attract talent was unbelievable in a genuine way. It had great people who did that. The leadership had individuals who truly rose to the challenge during difficult times. Knew how to do this, knew what it takes. They understood the meaning of struggling to get your voice heard for party workers who want to do something, want to make his or her presence felt. That human resources part of Congress has completely collapsed," he said.

Deora claimed that in Congress, meritocracy was often overlooked in favour of mediocrity.

He said, "In my previous party (Congress), that meritocracy, where if you are someone who's capable, you speak well in parliament, you have something unique to add, you have a following of your own, certain elements immediately see you as somebody who needs to be cut. In your place, someone who's mediocre at best is elevated. These are systems which, as I said, if you want to fix India's democracy, start by fixing democracy in your own organisation."

Milind Deora resigned from the Congress party on January 14, 2024, marking the end of his family's 55-year history with it. His late father, Murli Deora, was a prominent Congress leader who was the Cabinet Minister under the Manmohan Singh government. Murli Deora was a four-term MP from the Mumbai South Constituency.

- ANI