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Rahul Gandhi misquotes EAM Jaishankar to claim it was crime to inform Pakistan about Operation Sindoor at the start, peddles Pakistani propaganda that India lost multiple jets

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi misquotes EAM Jaishankar to claim it was crime to inform Pakistan about Operation Sindoor at the start, peddles Pakistani propaganda that India lost multiple jets

During and after the Operation Sindoor, several opposition parties and major opposition leaders have supported the government, and praised the armed forces for the successful operation. But, some leaders continue to doubt the government version, and raise baseless allegations. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is one of such leaders, who on Saturday claimed that it was a crime to inform Pakistan about the operation after it had started.

Sharing video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s comments, Rahul Gandhi posted on Twitter, “Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it.” He further asked, “Who authorised it?”

Shockingly, Rahul Gandhi also claimed that India lost several aircraft during the conflict, as he wanted to know, “⁠How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a result?”

Rahul Gandhi’s claim that India informing Pakistan at the start of the attack was a crime is misleading and wrong. By this claim, he is implying that Pakistan govt was informed before the strikes began. But that is not what ‘at the start of the operation’ means.

EAM Jaishankar said, “At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorist infrastructure. We are not striking at the military. So, the military has an option of standing out, and not interfere at this process. They chose not to take this good advice.’

Earlier, several social media users had distorted Jaishankar’s comments to claim that India informed Pakistan about the operation before it began. PIB has fact-checked those comments, saying that EAM is being misquoted and he has not made such a statement.

It is notable that Indian forces destroyed 9 terror bases in the Operation Sindoor using missiles and drones. Visuals show extensive damage to the terror sites, with reportedly over 100 deaths, including some of the top terrorist leaders. From the results of the operation and the minister’s comments, it is clear that India informed Pakistani government when it had started, not before.

As per Indian defence forces, Operation Sindoor on the night of 07-08 May 2025 was completed in just 23 minutes. By the time Indian authorities informed the Pakistani counterparts about the mission, it was already over.

Therefore, Rahul Gandhi’s claim that informing Pakistan was a crime is completely wrong and misleading. India told Pakistan, ‘We are hitting terror bases in your country, keep your military away’, which is an important part of diplomacy, and it was not an advance warning, as Rahul Gandhi is implying.

Moreover, Rahul Gandhi’s claim that S Jaishankar admitted to GOI informing Pakistan is also completely misleading. What India did was a standard procedure, it was done when the operation had already started.  

Rahul Gandhi’s second question is very worrying, as he is directly supporting the Pakistani claim of shooting down several Indian fighter jets, by asking the number of jets lost by India. Indian forces have repeatedly said that Operation Sindoor is on a pause, it has not ended, and therefore no such strategic information that can help the enemy will be revealed.

Moreover, Indian Government has asserted that “all strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, underscoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems.” Despite this official stand of the government, Rahul Gandhi is peddling Pakistani and Chinese claim of shooting down multiple Indian aircraft.

Importantly, there is no evidence so far that India lost any jet in the conflict. The debris found in some places are actually external fuel tanks of fighter jets, which can be dropped by the pilot during the operation after the fuel is used up. French experts have concluded that one such drop tank found on the ground in Kashmir is from a Mirage 2000 aircraft.

Shashi Tharoor stands by decision to lead MP delegation despite Congress objection, says party leadership entitled to opinion of his abilities

ANI
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Shashi Tharoor stands by decision to lead MP delegation despite Congress objection, says party leadership entitled to opinion of his abilities

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will lead one of the seven delegations of project for the India’s continued fight against cross-border terrorism. Tharoor stated that he will diligently fulfill his assigned responsibilities, emphasizing that while the party leadership is entitled to its opinions, his commitment remains steadfast.

“My party leadership is entitled to its opinion of my abilities or lack thereof, and I think that is really for them to explain. I have absolutely no comment to make on that. I am honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility, and I will fulfil that responsibility just as I have fulfilled every responsibility entrusted to me in my rather long working life, whether at the United Nations or in the Congress Party…We have a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on Monday and Tuesday on various issues, including this particular issue. Certainly, I informed them (the party) of the first call I got, which was two days ago. I also mentioned to the parliamentary affairs minister that I assumed that he would be talking to the party leaderships of opposition parties, and he assured me that he would be. I found it entirely appropriate, as I said, that the country should rally together on this particularly important issue…,” he said.

Tharoor expressed his commitment to the cause, and emphasised that the mission transcends party politics and reflects national unity.

“As a citizen, being called upon to serve the nation at a time of crisis is a matter of duty for all of us. It is an honour that I’ve been asked to lead the delegation, and I look forward to playing my part. I had no hesitation in accepting the kind invitation of the government,” he said.

“To my mind, this has nothing to do with party politics. It’s all to do with what our country has been through in recent times and the need for us to present a united front…It is a good reflection of national unity at a time when unity is important,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the government for not accepting all the names given by Congress party, and said that this is “dishonest on the government’s part.”

This comes after the government named Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in the list of 7 MPs who would represent India at world forums, where they would brief world leaders on Operation Sindoor.

“We were asked for names. We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking four names, giving four names, and announcing another name is dishonest on the government’s part. It is possible that’ Mr Rijiju had talked to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made up their mind, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But what happened is dishonest. We are not going to change these four names,” Jairam Ramesh said.

The All-Party Delegations will project India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country’s strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism.

Members of Parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities, and distinguished diplomats will be part of each delegation.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India’s precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7 killed over 100 terrorists.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Rajdeep Sardesai’s hashtag hypocrisy: Gulf outrage deserves action, Indian outrage against Turkey must be ignored

Aditi
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Rajdeep Sardesai’s hashtag hypocrisy: Gulf outrage deserves action, Indian outrage against Turkey must be ignored

The ongoing social media campaign calling for boycott of trade and tourism with Turkey seems to have rattled India Today journalist Rajdeep Sardesai who wants the boycott calls to stop. A visually disturbed Sardesai called the Indians who are running the online campaign against Turkey a “noise Army” while speaking to the Lallantop during a debate.

“We will have to build relations with Turkey later at some point. But today we are using social media to run campaigns. This, I think, is very dangerous,” said a miffed Sardesai. He urged the Indian government to ignore the social media calls for a boycott of Turkey and respond only through diplomatic measures, despite Turkey’s direct involvement in the Indo-Pak military conflict through the supply of combat drones and deployment of drone handlers.

Sardesai was quickly schooled by Lallantop Editor Saurabh Dwivedi who defended the social media campaign against Turkey saying that Indians who contribute to Turkey’s GDP through trade and a tourism have a right to express their disappointment on seeing the country side with Pakistan in complete disregard for India’s interests. “Rajdeep ji, it is a free world. If a large section of the citizens of this country feel that they do not want to visit Turkey, then they are free to decide,” Dwivedi said. However, Sardesai, kept repeating his stance saying this newly-found “internet nationalism’ cannot guide foreign policy as other panelists rejected her claims.

Ironically, Sardesai was among the first people who demanded the Indian government to take stern action against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma based on a social media outrage in the Gulf countries against her after Alt News cofounder Muhammad Zubair painted a target behind her and amplified her remarks on Prophet Muhammad by sharing an incomplete video of her riposte during a news debate on Times Now.

Sharma was responding to Taslim Ahmed Rehmani for his repeated offensive language against Hindu Gods and Hindu faith in a debate on the disputed structure at Gyanvapi in Kashi in May 2022. She questioned Rehmani about how he would feel if she shared details about Prophet Mohammad’s life as mentioned in Islamic scriptures.

Zubair took her remarks out of context and shared them on social media that subsequently spawned a diplomatic crisis for India after Sharma’s video created ripples on social media in the Middle East, with several Twitter users based out of Gulf threatening Sharma with dire consequences and tagging their leaders demanding they act against India. Several Islamic countries issued statements against Sharma and the Indian Government.

Back home, she was hounded by Islamists with ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans and threatened with beheading. Riots broke out in several places in the country and her effigy was burnt, hung at many places. Multiple FIRs were also registered against her. In the aftermath, multiple Hindus, including Kanhaiya Kumar in Udaipur and Umesh Kolhe in Amravati were targeted and brutally killed for expressing their support to Sharma.

When senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai recently admonished Indian social media users for calling for a boycott of Turkey—over its open support for Pakistan and supply of drones to bolster its military—he framed the issue as an example of jingoistic online mobs dictating India’s foreign policy. He argued that India’s global relations should not be driven by social media outrage.

A reasonable argument, no doubt. But unfortunately, Sardesai’s record on this very principle is riddled with hypocrisy.

But in 2022, when attack against Nupur Sharma snowballed into a diplomatic crisis largely due to outrage stoked by viral clips and hashtags on Gulf social media. Hashtags like #BoycottIndia trended in countries like Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. In response to this orchestrated online storm, Rajdeep was among the loudest voices in Indian media calling for government action—not against the foreign governments interfering in India’s internal debate, but against Sharma herself.

He argued then that the Indian government must urgently act to control the damage to India’s ties with Gulf countries by distancing itself from Sharma. The logic? Social media outrage in the Arab world was harming India’s image and interests. Sardesai didn’t seem to think foreign policy was above hashtag diplomacy back then. In fact, he amplified that very outrage by framing it as a diplomatic emergency that India had to “respond to.”

Fast forward to 2025, and Sardesai suddenly remembers that foreign policy shouldn’t be shaped by social media. This time, however, it’s Indian users expressing anger at Turkey—a nation that has not only backed Pakistan’s anti-India rhetoric on Kashmir but has actively armed it with drones, thereby enhancing Pakistan’s cross-border threat capabilities.

So when Indians, organically, voice their frustration and call for a boycott, Sardesai sees it as undiplomatic and reactionary. But when Gulf countries express online outrage over a domestic Indian political debate, his instinct is to demand immediate corrective action from the Indian state.

This double standard is jarring. And it is not journalism. It’s narrative management. Either social media outrage matters in foreign policy—or it doesn’t. Sardesai can’t have it both ways—conveniently railing against it when inconvenient while partaking in it when it aligns with his agenda.

In the end, the real threat to diplomacy isn’t social media. It’s selective outrage dressed up as principle

How Indian media lauded Zohran Mamdani, who led hate mob against Hindus, targeted Ram Mandir, demonised PM Modi as ‘war criminal’ and refused to condemn the Holocaust

OpIndia Staff
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How Indian media lauded Zohran Mamdani, who led hate mob against Hindus, targeted Ram Mandir, demonised PM Modi as ‘war criminal’ and refused to condemn the Holocaust

The Indian media is not leaving any stone unturned to heap praises on Zohran Mamdani – an American politician known for his brazen anti-Hindu rhetoric.

Mamdani was born in Uganda to ‘filmmaker’ Mira Nair and ‘author’ Mahmood Mamdani. He is currently running as a mayoral candidate for New York City (NYC). The controversial Democrat is currently a member of the New York State Assembly.

Mamdani is currently positioned 2nd in the race within the party. Despite his vicious record at peddling Hinduphobia and defaming India, our media ecosystem was yet again seen eulogising the American politician.

Screengrab of the news reports by The Times of India and India Today

India Today had suggested that Mamdani was ‘shaping NYC mayoral election’ while the Times of India published a speculative report about the earnings of the 33-year-old politician. DNA news was fixated on highlighting his ‘India connection.’

Screengrab of the news reports by DNA India

Indian media and the eulogy saga that began in 2020

OpIndia found that the trend of portraying Zohran Mamdani as an Indian-origin success story in US began in November 2020.

Screengrab of the news reports

At that time, Zohran Mamdani was glorified for being the son of ‘filmmaker’ Mira Nair and winning election to the New York State Assembly. Indian media publications like The New Indian Express, News18, Times Now and India Today went all out to tell its readers about his biography.

The Times of India also did not lose the opportunity to act as Mamdani’s PR machinery. Scroll and Moneycontrol, in particular, became fixated with his gimmicky election slogan of ‘Roti and Roses.’

Screengrab of the news reports

Leftist propaganda outlet NDTV even conducted an online interview with Zohran Mamdani.

Deep-seated Hinduphobia of the son of Mira Nair

All the news stories, however failed to disclose to its overwhelmingly Hindu readers, that the American politician is deeply Hinduphobic.

In August 2020 (months before the publication of eulogies in the Indian media), the famed son of ‘filmmaker’ Mira Nair was found leading a hate mob, demonising Hindus as ‘Harami (bastards),’ at Times Square.

“Who are the Hindus? Harami (Bastards),” the mob was heard yelling. Mamdani remained unflinched despite the dehumanisation of the Hindu community by his supporters. He instead began spewing vitriol against Ram Mandir.

“I am here today to protest against the BJP government in India and the demolition of the Babri Masjid that attempted to build a temple on the ruins of it,” claimed Zohran Mamdani.

He made it clear that the hate mob that he was leading at Times Square in August 2020 belonged to Khalistani extremists.

The video coincided with the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, which was performed by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Disdain for re-construction of Ram Mandir

Around the same time, Zohran Mamdani peddled vicious disinformation on X (formerly Twitter) about the re-constrcution of Ram Mandir. For context, a Ram Mandir always existed at the very site in Ayodhya since time immemorial.

Screengrab of the August 2020 tweet of Zohran Mamdani

Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb destroyed part of the temple and built a disputed structure on top of the temple foundation. The historical wrongdoing was corrected on 6th December 1992 by karsevaks. Through years of litigation, the Hindu site finally got the greenlight to begin the reconstruction of the temple at the same site where it existed before.

Indian media publications however blindly chose to ignore Mamdan’s anti-Hindu rhetoric and tirade against Ram Mandir.

Reference to PM Modi as ‘war criminal’

On Thursday (15th May), he crossed all limits of civility by dubbing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ‘war criminal.’

“No. And this is someone who we should view in the same manner that we do Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a war criminal,” Zohran Mamdani remarked on being asked about the possibility of joint presser with the Indian Prime Minister in New York.

Zohran Mamdani and his brazen anti-Semitism

The reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a ‘war criminal’ in the same breath stems from his deep-seated anti-Semitism. Just 4 months earlier, Zohran Mamdani passed on signing a resolution ‘condemning the Holocaust.’

He also refused to sign a resolution, which recognised 77th anniversary of Israel. His innate hatred for Jews and Israel became crystal clear after he targeted Israel for responding to October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

“He condemned Israel the day after October 7th, regularly gives interviews on unapologetic antisemitic platforms and just proudly accepted an endorsement from a disgraced former fire-alarm pulling Congressman who denied October 7th rapes before walking that back,” New York State Assembly member Sam Berger pointed out.

But nothing seem to stop the Indian media from finding ‘Indian origins’ of the anti-Hindu American politician.

Five Eyes nations, France and Japan express interest in obtaining wreckage of Chinese PL-15E missile shot down by India during Operation Sindoor

OpIndia Staff
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Five Eyes nations, France and Japan express interest in obtaining wreckage of Chinese PL-15E missile shot down by India during Operation Sindoor

Days after Indian military displayed the debris of Pakistan’s Chinese PL-15E missile shot down by India’s air defence system, several major global powers have expressed interest in obtaining the parts of missiles. As per reports, the Five Eyes nations along with Japan and France want the wreckage of the PL-15 air-to-air missile fired by Pakistan.

The Five Eyes is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network among five English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The alliance focuses on surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT).

Fragments of the PL-15E missile were recovered by Indian authorities in a field in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur on 9th May. During the press briefing on 12 May, Air Marshal Bharti revealed that Pakistan used advanced weaponry, including the Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missile to hit targets in India. However, India’s integrated air defence system, including the S-400 and Akaash Teer systems, succeeded in intercepting them before they could hit their targets.

Visuals of the likely debris of the missile were shown during the press briefing. Indian defence forces also showcased wreckage of long-range rockets, loiter munitions, and unmanned aerial systems, including Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones, which were destroyed by India’s air defence systems.

The PL-15 is a long-range air-to-air missile developed by China, designed to engage enemy aircraft at extended ranges. It is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, part of a new generation of Chinese weaponry that showcases the country’s increasing sophistication in military technology, particularly in air combat.

It can reach speed of up to Mach 5 and has a maximum range of about 300 km. However, the range is less in the export version, PL-15E. It has inertial navigation system (INS) with datalink for midcourse updates. The PL-15 has an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar seeker. It is also speculated to have some jam-resistant features and passive homing capabilities. The missile is powered by a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, which provides sustained thrust and extended range. The missile has been integrated with Chine fighter jets J-10C, J-16 and J0-20.

What the wreckage may contain

Notably, one PL-15E missile found in Hoshiarpur was almost intact, and it contain the propulsion system including the dual-pulse motor, two-way DataLink, Active Radar Seeker and inertial reference unit of the missile. Fragmented parts of other PL-15E missiles also have been found in the region.

The missile is one of the most advanced technologies developed by China, and for its global rival, any information about the missile is crucial in countering potential threats from China in the future.

They would provide Five Eyes and other nations valuable insights about the system. The information will be important for France as there are reports that a Rafale jet of IAF was shot down by a PL-15E missile. Similarly, neighbouring Japan will also like to have information about the missile.

Bigg Boss type reality show for US citizenship? US contemplating a reality show where immigrants will compete to become US citizens

OpIndia Staff
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Bigg Boss type reality show for US citizenship? US contemplating a reality show where immigrants will compete to become US citizens

The United States has a tendency to come up with some of the most bizarre ideas. In a curious blend of bureaucracy and showbiz, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently reviewing a pitch for a reality television show where immigrants would compete for a chance at American citizenship.

The proposal was first designed during the Obama years by Canadian-born producer Rob Worsoff, who is known for his work on Duck Dynasty. The proposal has once again found its way to the DHS desk. According to Worsoff, the idea is meant to be a hopeful celebration of becoming a US citizen and not a cruel elimination game. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, he said, “This isn’t The Hunger Games for immigrants.”

Notably, the idea has popped up again at a time when President Donald Trump has initiated a ruthless crackdown on illegal immigrants living in the US. Many student activists, some even from India, have also come under fire for their campus activism.

Contestants, competitions, and citizenship

The show is currently in its early conceptual stages. According to media reports, it would feature immigrants already in the legal system participating in contests ranging from history quizzes related to the US, gold rush simulations, and automobile reassembly tasks. Reportedly, one of the episodes envisions teams rebuilding the chassis of a Model T on a Detroit assembly line, while another has contestants racing to retrieve gold from a simulated mine.

The contestants would travel across the US via train, and the journey would start from Ellis Island. Possible names of celebrities to host the show include popular household stars such as Sofia Vergara, Ryan Reynolds, and Mila Kunis. In every episode, one seat on the train would be symbolically removed, adding a competitive element to the journey. Worsoff, however, clarified that if a contestant is eliminated, there will be no punitive consequences. He said, “This is not, ‘Hey, if you lose, we are shipping you out on a boat.’”

DHS confirms proposal is under review

Spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed that the show is “in the very beginning stages” of the department’s internal review process. She added, “Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.” The department receives hundreds of television pitches every year, including crime documentaries and docu-series like To Catch a Smuggler.

According to Worsoff, he has received initial positive feedback from the department and discussions with potential networks are already underway. He added that, so far, there have been no discussions with Secretary Kristi Noem and he was unaware if she had personally reviewed the idea.

The Bigg Boss-style show, originally called Big Brother in the US, to gain citizenship may sound bizarre to many, but for the US, it is possibly “normal”.

Congress upset with Shashi Tharoor’s name in Indian MPs delegation list- Jairam Ramesh says selecting Tharoor is dishonest as Congress gave 4 other names

ANI
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Congress upset with Shashi Tharoor’s name in Indian MPs delegation list- Jairam Ramesh says selecting Tharoor is dishonest as Congress gave 4 other names

Asserting that the Congress is “not going to change” the names of four MPs for the government’s proposed delegations to foreign countries to explain India’s stance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that this is “dishonest on the government’s part.”

This comes after the government named Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in the list of 7 MPs who would represent India at world forums, where they would brief world leaders on Operation Sindoor.

“We were asked for names. We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking four names, giving four names, and announcing another name is dishonest on the government’s part. It is possible that’ Mr Rijiju had talked to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made up their mind, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But what happened is dishonest. We are not going to change these four names,” Jairam Ramesh said.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) at 12.30 pm, Rahul ji wrote a letter to Kiren Rijiju and wrote ‘Dear Shri Kiren Rijiju, I am writing in follow-up of a conversation with me and Kharge ji regarding the delegation for the Foreign Countries after discussing with Kharge ji I am sending you four names Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Barar and Naseer Hussain’,” Ramesh said, giving the details of the letter written to Kiren Rijiju by LoP Rahul Gandhi.

Jairam Ramesh asserted that all the people who are in Congress belong to Congress; and that there is a “huge difference between being in Congress and being of Congress.”

He further said that the Congress party extended their support in everything, but today, when the names were announced, the party was “surprised.”

“From April 22nd till now we were demanding that an all party meeting be called, 2 meetings were held but it was a formality, PM did not come, Leader of Opposition Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wrote a letter for a special session should be called, there should be a detailed discussion, the purpose was that we should put our collective resolve in front of the country and the world, PM did not give any answer to this, suddenly we heard that an all party delegation will go, this shows that the narrative of the government has changed, we also welcomed this step, we said that whatever help we have to give in this diplomatic propaganda, we will do it, but the way the minister behaved, names were asked and today he announced it himself, this is not honesty, a game is being played,” Jairam Ramesh alleged.

He further reminded that in 1971, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent the delegation and said that “in the month of May, the delegation was sent. She called Jai Prakash Narayan and said, ‘you should go’. Indira ji herself went to Russia from 27 to 29 September.”

“Indira ji went to Belgium, Austria, France, Germany, America between 27 October to 12 November in 1971. Indira ji told then US President Richard Nixon that ‘I will do whatever is in India’s interest’,” the Congress leader added.

The leader demanded an all-party meeting and a session of Parliament and asked the government stand on Pakistan.

“Even today, we demand that an all-party meeting be called, a session of Parliament be called, and the resolution passed on 22 February 1994 be repeated. A discussion should be held on the government’s stance on Pakistan and what is relationship with America. Why is the PM running away from the all-party meeting? Why is he running away from the Parliament?” Jairam Ramesh questioned.

Earlier today, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the Indian National Congress (INC) has submitted names of four MPs for the government’s proposed delegations to foreign countries to explain India’s stance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Curiously, the name of Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was missing from the list that Jairam Ramesh says the Congress submitted to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, named Tharoor in the list of 7 MPs who would represent India at world forums where they would brief world leaders on Operation Sindoor. Tharoor has also accepted the government’s proposal.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Mian Shehbaz, you can mimic Modi—but where will you find his courage? Adampur and Pasrur revealed a new India, as Pakistan watched in defeat

रुपम
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Mian Shehbaz, you can mimic Modi—but where will you find his courage? Adampur and Pasrur revealed a new India, as Pakistan watched in defeat

There is only a year’s age difference between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif. But the impact that Narendra Modi creates with his presence is unmatched by Sharif. This difference was evident during Narendra Modi’s visit to the Indian Air Force’s Adampur airbase and Sharif’s visit to Sialkot’s Pasrur army cantonment imitating Modi.

PM Modi visited Adampur Airbase, showed S-400 and MIG 29

Pakistan ran a propaganda that in response to ‘Operation Sindoor’ it has destroyed the Adampur airbase of the Indian Air Force located in Punjab. Besides, a rumour was also spread that Pakistan has also damaged the air defence system S-400 deployed at this base. Notably, that Pakistan had also tried to target this airbase during the wars of 1965, 1971 and 1999, but failed.

PM Modi among the soldiers at Adampur Airbase on 13 May 2025, Mig-29 seen standing on the runway behind (Photo courtesy: X/@narendramodi)
PM Modi at Adampur Airbase on May 13, 2025, S-400 seen in the background (Photo courtesy: pib.gov.in)

After the ceasefire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Adampur airbase and demolished all the propaganda of Pakistan in front of the world. During this time, the world also saw the S-400, which Pakistan claimed to have damaged. The MIG-29 was also seen on the runway, which was claimed to be destroyed. During this time, the gestures, enthusiasm and conversation of everyone from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the soldiers were telling the story of the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’. Along with this, they were also exposing the lies of Pakistan.

Shahbaz Sharif went to the army camp and showed the tank

Imitating PM Modi, Shahbaz Sharif also visited the Pasrur army cantonment in Sialkot, located in his country’s Punjab province. But he could not muster the courage to visit any of the airbases that were destroyed by the Indian Army under ‘Operation Sindoor’, bringing Pakistan to its knees.

Pakistan, which harboured the illusion of being the ‘king of the skies’ based on AI generated pictures, could not display anything during this visit to show the world the capability of its army. The most ridiculous thing was that the Pakistani Prime Minister got himself photographed climbing on a tank to give a message about the battle in which fighter planes, missiles, drones , UAVs , air defense systems were used.

Niether India nor Pakistan used tanks in this military escalation. It is beyond comprehension why Pakistan displayed it as a symbol? Does this mean that after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has nothing left other than tanks, to send a message of its military capability to the world?

PM Modi’s direct message, Sharif’s clichéd remarks

We will take revenge from India – this has been the catchphrase of Pakistan’s politics and army since its birth. Despite defeat in the wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, 1999 and the partition of the country, Pakistan could not move beyond this one line. Many generations of Pakistan were destroyed talking about taking revenge, after that whether it was surgical strike or air strike or ‘Operation Sindoor’, India continuously attacked Pakistan in its own territory, but it could not move beyond this one line.

Even after climbing on the tank, Shahbaz Sharif, who was tired, could not go beyond the dialogue ‘You have taken revenge for the 1971 war in this war’. When the Prime Minister of a country, in whose territory India entered and destroyed everything from terrorist hideouts to airbases, made its air defence system and weapons blunt, whose drones and missiles were shot down by the Indian Army like kites, boasts of taking revenge, then confidence is neither visible in his gestures nor in his words. This was also reflected in this address of Sharif. Trust cannot be created from the dead confidence of a defeated army. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the Pakistani soldiers looking lethargic in the videos of Sharif’s visit.

In contrast to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech was a proclamation of ‘New India’. His every word was in praise of Operation Sindoor and the valour of the Indian Army. His gestures and the slogans of Bharat Mata during his speech were telling the level of morale and self-confidence of India.

He said;

India’s Laxman Rekha against terrorism is now very clear. If there is any terror attack again, India will give a strong and befitting reply. We have seen this during the surgical strike, during the air strike, and now Operation Sindoor is India’s new normal. India has now decided three principles. First – If there is a terrorist attack on India, we will respond in our own way, on our own terms, at our own time. Second – India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Third – We will not see the government that patronizes terrorism and the masters of terrorism as separate. The world is also moving forward by understanding this new form of India, this new system.

Sharif copied PM Modi, but could not follow that line

Like every word of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech, the message of his visit to Adampur is also clear. Adampur is a symbol of a strong India, which can postpone its military action on the request of a terrorist nation. But which also has the courage to give a befitting reply to terrorist activity or military audacity on its own terms and in its own way. It shows that it is in favour of peace, but also knows very well how to destroy the enemy.

On the other hand, Shahbaz Sharif’s words are as old, worn out and confused as Pakistan. The messages of his visit are as energy-less as the condition of the Pakistani army.

(This article is a translation of the original article published at OpIndia Hindi.)

Donald Trump again claims credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire, says he used trade to settle scores and make peace

ANI
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Donald Trump again claims credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire, says he used trade to settle scores and make peace

US President Donald Trump has once again taken credit for the understanding reached between India and Pakistan on the cessation of hositilities. Speaking to Fox News’s Bret Baier the US President claimed that he had used trade as a tool to make peace between India and Pakistan as the nuclear powered neighbours were on the brink of the conflict that was poised to become much more dangerous.

Baier questioned Trump asked about his “foreign policy successes” saying, “You had a couple of foreign policy successes even right before this trip. You picked up the phone and called two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, and you got them to step back from the brink. That was a success as you got on the plane heading over here.”

To this Trump called the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan to be, “A bigger success than I’ll ever be given credit for.”

He elaborated, “Those are major nuclear powers… and they were angry. The next phase was probably tit for tat. It was getting deeper and more missiles. Everyone was stronger, to a point where the next one was going to be the N-word (Nuclear)”.

Speaking about a potential nuclear conflict between the neighbours, Trump said, “It’s the N-word. That’s a very nasty word in a lot of ways. The N-word used in a nuclear sense, that’s the worst thing that can happen, and I think they were very close. The hatred was great. I said, we’re going to talk about trade. We’re going to do a lot of trade… I’m using trade to settle scores and to make peace.”, he told Baier.

The cessation of hostilities Trump referred to followed heightened tensions after Operation Sindoor, launched by India in the early hours of May 7. The operation targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in retaliation for the May 5 terror attack in Pahalgam. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the cessation of hostilities on May 10.

Trump had already welcomed the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, saying that millions of people could have died if the peace had not been worked out. The US President was making a reference to a potential nuclear fallout between the two nations.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

From US taking over Gaza to relocating all Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt to now sending them all to Libya: Donald Trump’s ‘out of the box’ ideas to resolve Gaza conflict

OpIndia Staff
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From US taking over Gaza to relocating all Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt to now sending them all to Libya: Donald Trump’s ‘out of the box’ ideas to resolve Gaza conflict

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring possibilities to permanently relocate up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya. According to an exclusive report by NBC News, the proposal is still in the early stages. According to NBC, if the plan progresses further, the United States will discuss the possibilities with Libya’s leadership and may unfreeze billions of dollars in Libyan funds in exchange for hosting Palestinians.

NBC quotes several unnamed individuals familiar with the matter, including two with direct knowledge and a former US official. Israel has also reportedly been kept in the loop regarding these deliberations. However, speaking to NBC, a spokesperson for the Trump administration denied the report. They said, “These reports are untrue. The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan.”

The suggestion reported is one in a series of controversial proposals by Donald Trump to “resolve” the so-called Gaza crisis. Earlier this year, Trump proposed that the US should “take over” Gaza and rebuild it as the “Riviera of the Middle East”. At that time as well, Trump had suggested relocating the population elsewhere. Previously, he had floated the idea of sending Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan.

According to some experts, the plan to relocate Palestinians to Libya is unrealistic and dangerous. Libya is currently embroiled in conflict between two rival governments: one in Tripoli under Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and the other in Benghazi led by Khalifa Haftar. The State Department continues to advise against travel to Libya due to instability, terrorism, and civil unrest.

Furthermore, to fulfil Trump’s desire to move a million people from Gaza to Libya would require a massive logistical undertaking. There is no functional airport in Gaza, meaning such a large-scale evacuation would require first moving people to Cairo or elsewhere. It would take around 1,100 flights of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, to transport that many people. If waterways or land transport are considered, they too are riddled with challenges.

Reportedly, Hamas has rejected the idea. The terrorist outfit’s official, Basem Naim, said, “Palestinians are very rooted in their homeland. They are exclusively the only party who have the right to decide what to do and what not to do.”

Even American lawmakers have criticised Trump’s idea of relocation. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, though an ally, called the idea “problematic at many, many levels”. Arab nations too have shown little interest in the permanent resettlement of the people of Gaza.

Interestingly, NBC’s report claimed that another option being considered is Syria, under new leadership following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. Trump has moved to re-establish ties with Syria, lifting sanctions and meeting its new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Following the terrorist attack of 7th October 2023 on Israel that led to military action against Hamas, around 50,000 people have been killed. Thousands more have reportedly been injured or are missing amid Israel Hamas War. At such a time, Trump’s “out of the box” idea of relocating Gaza’s people is being seen as detached from reality.

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