Prithviraj Chavan’s “India Defeated on Day One of Operation Sindoor” Remark Sparks Political Row

Prithviraj Chavan, a prominent congress leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra, has found himself at the center of a political storm following his remarks on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.

Chavan claimed that India suffered a total defeat on the very first day of the operation after Indian fighter jets were allegedly shot down. Despite widespread criticism, he refused to apologise, asserting that he had exercised his constitutional right to question the government.

“I don’t need to apologise because I didn’t say anything inappropriate. I have the right to question under the Constitution,” Chavan said, defending his controversial comments.

‘India Was Totally Defeated’: Chavan

Elaborating on his statement, Chavan said that the Indian Air Force was effectively grounded after the initial engagement.

“We were totally defeated on the first day of Operation Sindoor. Whether people like it or not, we were completely defeated in the half-hour aerial engagement on May 7. Indian planes were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew,” he said.

He further claimed that Indian airbases were vulnerable during the operation.

“If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of it being shot down by Pakistan. That is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” Chavan added.

Questions Over Size of Indian Army

The Congress leader also questioned the relevance of maintaining a large standing army, arguing that modern warfare is increasingly limited to aerial and missile strikes.

“We saw during Operation Sindoor that the troops did not move a single kilometre. Whatever happened over two or three days was limited to missile and aerial warfare. In the future too, wars will be fought in the same way,” he said.

“In such a situation, do we really need to maintain an army of 12 lakh soldiers, or can we make them do some other work?” Chavan asked.

Background: Operation Sindoor

On April 22, 2025, Pakistan-backed terrorists attacked a village in Pahalgam, targeting mostly tourists. The assailants reportedly asked victims about their religion before killing them, leaving 26 people dead in what was described as an attempt to provoke communal tension in India.

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, carrying out strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that were linked to terrorist infrastructure.

Political Fallout

Chavan’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from political opponents, who have accused him of undermining the morale of the armed forces and echoing hostile narratives. The Congress party has not yet issued an official clarification distancing itself from his statements.

The controversy continues to intensify, with the debate now centering on National Security, military preparedness, and the limits of political criticism during times of conflict.