India took out Pak’s China-made air defences in just 22 minutes during Operation Sindoor: BJP’s Baijayant Panda

BJP MP Baijayant Panda

Speaking in Parliament on Operation Sindoor, BJP MP Baijayant Panda on Monday drew a sharp contrast between past and present responses to terrorism. He recounted a series of attacks from the 2005 Delhi blasts to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, highlighting that despite actionable intelligence and prepared military plans, the then UPA government chose not to retaliate.

“It is on record that senior-most officials, including the Foreign Secretary and NSA, decided not to hit back,” Panda said. He criticised successive governments for what he termed "appeasement," accusing them of continuing dialogue with Pakistan despite clear evidence of its involvement in terror funding and cross-border attacks.

BJP national vice president Baijyant Panda also said that India received 61 messages of support from heads of states and global organisations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. “Contrary to what the Opposition claims, even the President of Iran called Prime Minister Modi. No one said India doesn’t have the right to defend itself,” he stated.

Panda hit out at the Congress-led UPA, accusing it of surrendering to Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh on multiple occasions in the past, citing the Shimla Agreement, Aksai Chin, and Berubari as glaring examples.

He further asserted that India’s action post-Pahalgam targeted terrorists, not civilians. “The world understands Pakistan’s terror model. Many major attacks took place during the UPA era, yet it is shameful that some question our army and government more than they question Pakistan,” he said, adding that the Opposition has not held Pakistan accountable despite its blatant denials of harbouring terror outfits.