Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly showing distrust in the armed forces in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which he said revealed India’s self-reliance and extraordinary military capabilities.
“The Congress is taking out Jai Hind Yatra on the one hand, and their leader Rahul Gandhi is blatantly showing disrespect and distrust towards our armed forces on the other hand. It is very unfortunate,” Fadnavis told the media after participating in the Tiranga Yatra at Khaparkheda in the Nagpur district.
In his first comments following Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statement that India had informed Pakistan about targeting terrorist infrastructure within its territory.
Gandhi, in a post on X Saturday, said, “Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), responding to Gandhi’s statement, called it a “misrepresentation of facts”.
Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime.
EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it.
1. Who authorised it?
2. How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a result? pic.twitter.com/KmawLLf4yW— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 17, 2025
Fadnavis said, “Unfortunately, at a time when everybody is setting aside their political differences, we see Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi questioning the government and showing a lack of trust in the armed forces.
“If the Congress has decided on Jai Hind Yatra, it is good. But then, when your leader (Rahul Gandhi) shows distrust in armed forces, it defeats the very objective of the yatra,” he added.
Fadnavis said indigenous weapons displayed India’s capabilities during Operation Sindoor. “Today, there are several countries seeking Indian arms and ammunition. Our Make in India initiative has succeeded. And it was a big step towards becoming self-reliant,” said Fadnavis, who was accompanied by state BJP president and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and BJP leader Ashish Deshmukh.
The Tiranga Yatra, Fadnavis said, was to honour and acknowledge the success of our armed forces. “The entire world has taken note of the armed forces’ capabilities. The Tiranga Yatra across the country is not taken out with any political motive. It is not restricted to the BJP. From district taluka to panchayat levels,, the yatra is underway where people and political parties, setting aside differences, should come together.”
