At least 100 terrorists killed in Indian strikes, Operation
At least 100 terrorists killed in Indian strikes, Operation Sindoor ongoing: Rajnath at all-party meeting
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told an all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the still ongoing Operation Sindoor
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and JP Nadda,
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President and
Leader of Opposition in the Raya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders
during an all-party meeting on 'Operation Sindoor', in New Delhi, Thursday, May
8, 2025. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told an all-party
meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed when India struck terror sites
in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the still ongoing Operation
Sindoor, sources said.
The defence minister also informed the leaders, who fully
endorsed the government's military action and complimented the armed forces,
that India will hit back if Pakistan attacks, they said.
Political leaders from parties, including the Congress,
AIMIM, Trinamool Congress and the DMK, extended full cooperation to the
government on the issue of national security.
"In the moment of crisis, we are with the
government," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said after the meeting.
"The defence minister said this is a sensitive time
and in the interest of the country, detailed questions are not to be
asked," he said.
"Operation Sindoor claimed the lives of at least 100
terrorists. It is difficult to give an exact estimate as the operation is still
ongoing and we are still collating the details. India will give a befitting
reply if Pakistan attacks," a source at the meeting quoted Singh as saying
in a suo motu statement.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary
Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said leaders showed maturity and did not indulge
in bickering at the meeting, presided over by Singh and convened to evolve a
broad political consensus on the issue.
"The discussions were conducted in a constructive
and serious manner given the gravity of the issue at hand. The defence minister
briefed all leaders in detail about Operation Sindoor. Each leader expressed
their views with responsibility and maturity, recognising the major challenge
the country is currently facing," Rijiju said.
"Across party lines, political leaders said there is
no place for politics in such critical times. All leaders unanimously
congratulated our armed forces on the success of Operation Sindoor and assured
their full support to the government, with no dissent whatsoever," he
added.
Several valuable suggestions were also put forward during
the meeting, held a day after Operation Sindoor, Rijiju said.
The leaders shared their concerns on the issue of
national security and the safety of all Indians, especially in border areas,
but extended all support. The message is that the entire nation is united with
the government and the armed forces.
"We don't do politics just for forming governments
but also to build the nation," Rijiju quoted Singh as saying.
"The raksha mantri told the meeting that it was an
ongoing operation and that is why he cannot share the technical details of
Operation Sindoor that was launched by Indian armed forces," Rijiju said.
And that is why no no armed forces officials were present
at the all-party meeting. They were busy with operations.
"Political leaders also congratulated the armed
forces for the action taken under Operation Sindoor," he said.
"We gave full support and what Kharge ji said is
right - there are certain things that shouldn't be discussed. Everyone simply
gave their support," leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
Kharge added that the defence minister did not want to
share the details of the operation as it was ongoing. The government informed
the gathering that they had struck only terrorists camps and places harbouring
terrorists and would take all steps to ensure the safety of people, especially
in border areas.
The Congress chief said Gandhi, who spoke last, also
urged the government to convene a special session of Parliament on the issue to
send out a clear message to the world.
"All parties of the INDIA bloc and other parties as
well in one voice said 'you move ahead and we are with you in the decisions you
take and are standing with the army'," the Congress chief said.
He also expressed disappointment that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi did not attend the all-party meeting.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he complimented the
armed forces and the government for conducting Operation Sindoor.
"I also said that we should run an international
campaign against TRF and the UN Security Council should designate it as terror
organisation. We also need to ask the United States to designate TRF as foreign
terrorist organisation in the country," he said.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, has
emerged mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were
killed and also claimed responsibility for it.
"BJD wholeheartedly commends the extraordinary
courage, clinical precision and gallant professionalism of our armed forces in
carrying out Operation Sindoor. We salute every officer, soldier, unit involved
in this mission," said party leader Sasmit Patra.
"We are united against the fight on terrorism from
Pakistan. This is the need of the hour. We should fight shoulder to shoulder.
There should be no division between us," said Trinamool Congress' Sudip
Bandyopadhyay.
Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP president J P
Nadda attended the meeting.
Among the opposition leaders present were T R Baalu
(DMK), Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv
Sena-UBT, Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) and John Brittas (CPI-M).
Besides, JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha and Union minister and
LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan were also part of the meeting.
The government had earlier called an all-party meeting on
April 24 to brief leaders on the Pahalgam attack.
