‘Where’s the confusion?’, Priyanka Chaturvedi on renewed ‘Op Sindoor’ debate on martyrs

Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday questioned the renewed political debate over the number of soldiers martyred during ‘Operation Sindoor’, while recalling that both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force had recognised the loss earlier and had paid tributes to the six personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

The controversy over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement over “no soldiers” deaths in the Parliament, days after ‘Operation Sindoor’, started after six martyred jawans were immortalised by inscribing their names on the National War Memorial in the national Capital on Monday.

In a post on X, Chaturvedi said, “Am I the only one who recalls that during Op Sindoor, the then-DGMO, LG Rajeev Ghai, at an official Press briefing, had paid tribute to the 5 personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the Operation. Also recall Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, having personally visited Sergeant Kumar’s family to pay his respects. And now, the National War Memorial has their names etched in stone as a tribute for their ultimate sacrifice. Where’s the confusion?”

Chaturvedi referred to the instance when General Rajiv Ghai, then a Lieutenant General serving as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), had paid solemn tribute to the fallen heroes during an official Press conference on May 11, 2025.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and his wife, Sarita Singh, had also personally visited the family of the late Sergeant Surendra Kumar, who laid down his life during ‘Operation Sindoor’, to pay their respects.

Chaturvedi’s remarks came as Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s ally in the INDIA Bloc, trained guns at the Centre and the Defence Minister, as it claimed that the latter tried to gloss over the supreme sacrifice of soldiers during ‘Operation Sindoor’, thus not giving them the respect and honour that the martyrs deserved.

Congress accused the Centre of deliberately misleading Parliament and demanded Rajnath Singh’s resignation.

The Ministry of Defence firmly rejected these allegations as factually incorrect and warned against politicising sensitive military matters.

The Ministry clarified that this statement was taken out of context. The Ministry explained that he was specifically countering a false, viral rumour spreading online that Indian Air Force pilots had been shot down, rather than denying ground casualties.

The six brave soldiers martyred in ‘Operation Sindoor’ include Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Murali Naik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh, and Indian Air Force Sergeant Surendra Kumar.

Five of these personnel belonged to the Indian Army, while one belonged to the Indian Air Force.

Their names are being inscribed at the National War Memorial to ensure that their supreme sacrifice remains alive in the nation’s memory forever.

–IANS

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