'India wanted Operation Tandoor not Sindoor': SP MP Ramashankar Rajbhar in Lok Sabha

Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar

Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar said on Monday in Lok Sabha that India wanted "Operation Tandoor" after the Pahalgam terror attack to roast the terrorist responsible for it, and not Operation Sindoor.

"The country was so angry (over the Pahalgam attack) that by the third day, people wanted not Operation Sindoor, but Operation Tandoor, that is to throw the terrorists into that tandoor. But instead, the operation happened 17 days later." "Where are those who carried out the Pahalgam attack among the 100 terrorists (killed during the operation)? That's the real question," he said.

He was speaking during the special debate in the Lower House on the Pahalgam terror strike and Operation Sindoor. Rajbhar accused the government of failing to act decisively and questioned the "delay" in the operation, saying that a mission that should have been initiated in three days was carried out after 17 days.

Rajbhar went on to praise the unity shown by Indians across religious lines, saying, “Terrorists wanted to incite riots in India, but Hindus and Muslims together foiled the enemy’s plan.” Referring to statements by US President Donald Trump, Rajbhar said Trump had publicly claimed multiple times that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was achieved due to US intervention.

“Trump said at least 26 times that he facilitated an India-Pakistan ceasefire, even crediting arms deals for it. These are serious claims,” Rajbhar said, adding, “If Trump was telling the truth, then where do we stand? The real Vishwaguru was sitting in the White House,” he said.

Earlier in the day,  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh targeted the opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of prioritising the wrong questions during the opening debate on Operation Sindoor.

Replying to the questions raised by the Opposition during the Parliament monsoon session about possible Indian aircraft losses, Singh said that their questions did not represent the national sentiments.

"In every country, citizens hand over different duties to the opposition and the government. The government's role is to work for the citizens, and the Opposition's role is to ask questions of the government on important matters related to citizens. Few members of the Opposition have been asking how many of our aircraft were shot down? I feel their question does not adequately represent our national sentiments," Singh said.

Singh further hailed Operation Sindoor, saying that the military operation that was launched on May 7 in response to the Phalgam terror attack was a "success."

"If they must ask a question, it should be whether India destroyed terrorist bases, and the answer to that is, yes... If you have a question to ask, it should be whether Operation Sindoor was a success. The answer is yes. Were terror heads destroyed? Yes. If you have a question to ask, ask this: Were any of our brave soldiers harmed in this operation? The answer is, no, none of our soldiers were harmed...," he further said.

Labelling the military operation that was launched by the Indian armed forces as "historic", Singh paid tributes to the soldiers who always remain ready to sacrifice their lives for the nation.

"The Parliament is ready to discuss Operation Sindoor. First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude on behalf of the Parliament towards brave jawans who have sacrificed for the country whenever required," Singh said in his address to Lok Sabha. He emphasised that Operation Sindoor was a "decisive and effective demonstration" of India's policy against terrorism.