The Opposition Congress on Monday (May 26, 2025) questioned the Centre about the conditions on which the ceasefire was arrived at during the recent conflict with Pakistan. Addressing a ‘Jai Hind’ rally in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, Congress leaders said the ceasefire had caused “anger” in the entire country and alleged that Operation Sindoor was halted under pressure from the U.S.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and the Congress in-charge for Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, addressed the rally, in addition to senior party leaders from the State.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the army had displayed valour and courage and given a “befitting reply” to terrorists during Operation Sindoor. Questioning the ceasefire when India was in a “dominant position”, Mr. Gehlot said, “The people are demanding an answer as to why the Narendra Modi government succumbed to U.S. pressure.”
“In 1971, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ignored American pressure and divided Pakistan into two parts,” Mr. Gehlot said, amid applause from the audience. He said the people wanted to know if Pakistan had agreed to the condition of handing over the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam carnage to India.
Slogans such as “sena ke samman mein, Congress maidan mein” (Congress is on the front in the honour of the army) were raised during the rally. Barmer, which shares a 227-kilometers-long border with Pakistan, witnessed several drone attacks from the neighbouring country during Operation Sindoor.
Mr. Surjewala said it was strange that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared that “hot sindoor” runs in his veins, had reached a compromise in the name of trade, as claimed by U.S. President Donald Trump. “If the U.S. President is wrong, Mr. Modi should refute his claim. Why is the PM afraid of America? He is hurting the nation’s self-respect by his silence,” he said.
AICC General Secretary said it was easy to “get an army uniform stitched,” take credit for the military operation, and boost electoral results. He further stated that the public wants to know why the Centre had stopped army recruitments for the last 11 years, and why two lakh posts were vacant in the army.
“There has been no recruitment for the Mountain Strike Force even after 11 years. We praise the brave pilots of our Air Force, but there is a valid question as to why 45 squadrons have not been completed and why there is a shortage of aircraft fleet,” Mr. Surjewala added.
Mr. Randhawa said the Centre had completely stopped development works along the border with Pakistan, even though these areas were the country’s first line of defence. “Mr. Modi failed to realise that the conflict had provided us with an opportunity to break the back of Pakistan… Why has no Parliament session been convened to tell the nation about the success of our operation?” he asked.
The Congress leaders paid tributes to ex-servicemen and the wives of soldiers who had lost their lives during wars with Pakistan. The families of some departed soldiers, who were present at the rally, were given mementoes and shawls.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Tika Ram Jully, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, and Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal also addressed the rally.
Published – May 27, 2025 02:10 am IST
