Congress MLA calls Operartion Sindoor 'Show-off', claims nothing was done

The political debate over Operation Sindoor has intensified as Karnataka Congress MLA Kothur Manjunath openly questioned the effectiveness and purpose of the precision strikes carried out by India against Pakistani terror camps.

Addressing a local gathering, Manjunath expressed skepticism over the official claims made by the Indian government, stating that the strikes failed to deliver real justice to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26–28 people, mostly tourists, on April 22.

“Nothing was done. Just to show off, they sent three-four flights overhead and returned. Will that compensate for the people killed in Pahalgam?” Manjunath said. He called the action inadequate and questioned whether it truly reflected the nation’s commitment to the victims and their families.

Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7, was hailed by the government as a major counter-terror mission, with officials claiming the destruction of nine major terror launch pads and elimination of nearly 100 terrorists across the border. However, opposition voices, including Manjunath, remain unconvinced.

The Congress MLA questioned the lack of clear details and identification of those killed. “Were the actual attackers of Baisaran Valley among the dead? Who were these terrorists? How did they cross our borders? Was there a lapse in intelligence or border security?” he asked, pointing toward systemic flaws.

Adding to the controversy, Manjunath alleged that multiple narratives are being circulated in the media with conflicting information about the scale of destruction and number of terrorists killed. “Every TV channel has a different story. Where is the verified official statement?” he said.

Meanwhile, the Indian government maintains that the strikes were highly successful and targeted only terror infrastructure, ensuring no civilian casualties. It insists that the operation was a justified and precise response to the drone attacks and cross-border terror threats.