Jaya Bachchan Questions Operation Sindoor’s Name, Sparks BJP Outrage

Jaya Bachchan’s query about “Operation Sindoor” ignites a political firestorm. BJP leaders express outrage over her questioning of the operation’s name

July 30, 2025: During a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan asked the administration about the moniker “Operation Sindoor.”

She said that the vermilion (sindoor) had been wiped off the foreheads of women whose husbands were killed in the Pahalgam terror assault. She said that the name was insensitive because of the loss that had happened.

Shehzad Poonawalla, a spokesperson for the BJP, fiercely denied her criticism. He said that sindoor stands for force and capacity, and that the operation was called to send a message of strength against the terrorists who caused so much pain. He also pointed out that Prithviraj Chavan, a leader of the Congress party, had already attacked the BJP for naming activities after religious symbols. C.R. Kesavan, a leader of the BJP, branded this “the most deplorable” thing.

Operations in Context:

Terror Attack in Pahalgam: On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, most of whom were tourists. The attackers are said to have separated the victims by faith.

The Government of India started “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025. It was a military response to terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). Rajnath Singh, the Minister of Defense, said that the operation killed more than 100 terrorists, their trainers, and their handlers in precise attacks on nine terror infrastructure sites in within 22 minutes. He made it clear that the operation was put on hold once it reached its goals and could be started up again if needed.

Operation Mahadev: The Army, CRPF, and J&K Police all worked together on this operation, which started later and killed three terrorists, including Suleiman, also known as Faizal Jatt, who is thought to be the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack. Amit Shah, the Home Minister, told Parliament that these three people were responsible for the Pahalgam massacre.

The debate shows that there is a big political divide over how the government handles national security operations. The opposition criticizes the use of religious symbols in naming military actions and questions the details and results of the operations. The ruling party, on the other hand, defends its choices as symbols of national strength and resolve against terrorism.