Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan criticized the name "Operation Sindoor" for India's response to the Pahalgam attack, stating it was inappropriate since women were widowed and "lost their sindoor." During a Rajya Sabha debate, she also expressed frustration at interruptions and extended condolences to the victims' families
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan speaks during a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, at the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi.Pic/PTI
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on Wednesday questioned the naming of India’s retaliatory action post-Pahalgam attack as “Operation Sindoor”, arguing that women were widowed in the incident and had, in fact, “lost their sindoor”, reported news agency PTI.
During a Rajya Sabha debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the SP MP was observed objecting to interruptions from other Members of Parliament. The actor-turned-politician, known for her sharp demeanour, was urged by the Chair to disregard the interjections. Ms Bachchan, however, retorted that she has “sharp ears”, and at one point, was seen telling Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was seated beside her, “don’t control me”.
Bachchan extended her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack. “It feels strange because whatever happened looks like fiction — people came, killed so many, nothing happened. It’s really unreal,” she remarked.
She continued, “I talk from my heart... You have appointed bid writers, who give fancy names... Why did you name it Sindoor? Sindoor toh ujad gaya logon ka (they lost their sindoor)... Those who were killed, their wives were left behind.”
Challenging the government’s previous claims, she added, “The tourists who went there, why did they go there? After the abolition of Article 370, they were chest-thumping that terrorism will be finished... What happened? The tourists went there believing that.”
“You have destroyed the faith and trust of the people you promised. Those families will never forgive you. You do not have the ability to apologise to those families,” she asserted.
Emphasising the importance of leadership qualities, she stated, “Humility in power is very important.”
She further criticised the government’s perceived lack of preparedness: “The Defence Minister said we are self-reliant, we are manufacturing this and that. What is the point when you were not even able to save 25–26 people... Bombs will not help, basic humanity is required.”
“No dispute can be silenced by violence alone. I am sorry to say one department where you are very poor is humility,” she said.
Quoting Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, she added, “Derek said a good thing — ‘the weaker the argument, the more aggressive the body language’.”
Concluding her address, she appealed, “Be humble, be kind, be protective towards people who have given you this position and authority with hope that you will protect them... Protect them, please say sorry.”
(With inputs from PTI)
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