Spokesperson Colonel Rohit Chaudhary and retired Wing Commander Anuma Acharya : Chairman of the party’s ex-servicemen Department, Colonel Rohit Chaudhary and retired Wing Commander Anuma Acharya noted that Rajnath Singh made a false statement in Parliament on July 28, 2025, regarding casualties during Operation Sindoor. The Congress has demanded the removal of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for misleading Parliament by stating that no Indian soldier was martyred during Operation Sindoor. Terming the statement an insult to the country’s martyrs, the party also called for a privilege motion against the Defence Minister.

They demanded that the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and BJP leadership apologise to the families of the martyrs, the armed forces and the nation for disrespect towards the martyrs. They also reiterated the party’s demand for the complete withdrawal of the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

The Congress leaders questioned why it took 13 months to officially make public the names of soldiers who were martyred during operation, despite the operation having concluded in May 2025. Describing it a compromise with national security, they said a soldier’s martyrdom is a source of inspiration and pride for their regiment, yet the regiments of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation were deprived of that honour. They also sought an explanation for why the martyred soldiers remained unnamed for such a long period.

Col Rohit Chaudhary claimed that ten Indian soldiers were killed during Operation Sindoor. He alleged that while the names of six personnel were recently added to the National War Memorial website and the India Gate National War Memorial, the names of four other martyrs were still missing.

Referring to the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, the party also targeted the government over the Pahalgam terror attack, calling it a major security failure. Col Chaudhary said that since Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory, the responsibility for its security rests with the Central Government. However, he alleged that intelligence and security agencies under the Union Home Ministry failed to act despite receiving inputs. He added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reviewed the security situation between April 6 and 8, 2025, and that the Prime Minister’s proposed visit on April 17 had been cancelled. Col Chaudhary said that the Pahalgam terror attack occurred just days after Amit Shah’s assertion about no lapse in security.

The Congress also raised concerns over the treatment of Agniveers, pointing out discrimination against the families of Agniveer personnel martyred while in service. Col Chaudhary said that such families do not receive pension, gratuity, healthcare and education benefits on a par with those of regular soldiers. He also accused the government of doing injustice to disabled service personnel by bringing disability pensions under the tax ambit. Wednesday June 29, 2026