Operation Sindoor: Congress renews 'India lost jets' claim, says 'Modi government compromised national security'

NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday latched on to the remarks of Captain Shiv Kumar to rake up its attack on the government, accusing it of failing to disclose aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor.In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera cited India’s defence attaché to Indonesia and claimed that "Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan only because of the constraint given by the political leadership.""In another shocking revelation by Capt. Shiv Kumar, it has emerged that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7, 2025, during its targeting of Pakistan’s terror-linked sites — only because of the constraint given by the political leadership," Khera said."This is a direct indictment of the Modi government, particularly defence minister Rajnath Singh. No wonder they are ducking our demand for a Special Session of Parliament like the plague. They know they’ve compromised national security, and they’re terrified of what the Congress Party will expose before the people of India," he added.This comes after India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, reportedly said that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7 during its targeting of Pakistan’s terror-linked sites. Shiv Kumar said that even though he “may not agree that we lost so many aircraft, I do agree we did lose some aircraft.”Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces General Anil Chauhan categorically rejected Pakistan's claims that it had shot down six Indian warplanes during Operation Sindoor, calling the information "absolutely incorrect."The CDS added that "what is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were being downed.""The good part is that we were able to understand the tactical mistake we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days — and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range," General Chauhan said during an interview with Bloomberg TV when asked about Pakistan's claims."What is important is not the jet being downed, but why they were downed," the CDS said, adding: "Why they were downed, what mistakes were made — those are important... Numbers are not important."Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.