Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has sparked controversy by demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify to India’s 140 crore citizens how many Rafale fighter jets were allegedly shot down by Pakistan during the so-called “Operation Sindoor.” Speaking at the ‘Jai Hind’ rally, Reddy criticized Modi for not convening an all-party meeting before halting military action against Pakistan, unlike the consultation held prior to initiating conflict. He further accused Modi of failing to liberate Balochistan or reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), despite what he claimed were the aspirations of India’s populace.
Reddy highlighted the role of Telangana’s Secunderabad Cantonment soldiers and locally manufactured warplanes in upholding national pride, but alleged that Rafale jets, procured under Modi’s leadership, were shot down by Pakistan. “Modi must account for how many Rafale aircraft were lost in the recent conflict,” Reddy demanded, as quoted by PTI. He also claimed that contracts worth thousands of crores for Rafale purchases were awarded to Modi’s associates.
Additionally, Reddy accused Modi of failing to counter China’s alleged encroachment of 4,000 square kilometers of Indian territory. He contrasted this with former PM Indira Gandhi’s leadership, asserting that she defeated China in 1967 and, despite U.S. threats, created Bangladesh by defeating Pakistan in 1971. Reddy further claimed that the abrupt end to the recent conflict with Pakistan followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention, though he questioned who pressured whom to halt the war.
The Telangana BJP unit sharply rebuked Reddy, accusing him of parroting Pakistan’s narrative by questioning key defense operations, including the Rafale jets and “Operation Sindoor.” In a post on X, the BJP alleged Reddy referred to Pakistan as “Mana Pakistan” (Our Pakistan), a remark they claimed aligns with Pakistan’s stance. The party criticized Congress for consistently opposing national security measures, from surgical strikes to the Agnipath scheme, and took a swipe at Reddy, saying, “Stick to Miss World photo ops, Revanth. National security isn’t your stage.”