July 29, 2025
Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose’s speech during the Special Discussion on Operation Sindoor
“Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I rise to speak today. At the outset, I wish to express my deepest condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre, and to those who were injured or killed in the cross-border shelling in border areas. Our sympathies and solidarity are with all the residents of border areas like Poonch, Rajouri, and Uri. No matter how much we debate in this House, those innocent lives will not return. Regarding Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister has said, “There is no blood in my veins, only sindoor flows through them.” But we refuse to accept this. We will not say “Prime Minister, you have no sindoor in your veins.” We will say only politics flows through your veins. You do not have sindoor in your veins; you only have politics and more politics in your veins. “If indeed sindoor did flow in the Prime Minister’s veins, then how did such a massive security lapse occur on April 22? How did terrorists infiltrate Pahalgam? It was your negligence. It was due to your lack of accountability. And yet, no one has been held responsible for this grave security failure. If the Prime Minister truly had sindoor in his blood, why is the Indian cricket team playing against Pakistan? The Centre claims it is working to isolate Pakistan; then, why was the Indian team permitted to play them in the Asia Cup, 2025? Why? Is it because it is a big money tournament? Where is the principle? Where is the diplomacy? No, Prime Minister; you do not have sindoor in your veins — only politics.” “If sindoor truly flowed in the Prime Minister’s veins, why has he not yet visited the border villages where innocent people were injured in the shelling — where children were wounded, homes destroyed, schools razed? While the Prime Minister travels the world and embraces global leaders, why has he not embraced the wounded children in these border areas? After the Pahalgam attack, why did the Prime Minister following his return from Saudi Arabia not meet the families of the deceased? Why did he first rush to Bihar to address an election rally? Why did he not wipe the tears of the martyrs’ families in Pahalgam before campaigning? Why politicise death? Are you playing politics over dead bodies?” Why are you playing politics with dead bodies? “Because the Prime Minister does not have sindoor in his veins, only politics. The Trinamool Congress has always stood by our brave soldiers against terrorism and Pakistan-backed militants. But that does not mean, we will not question the Government. True patriots ask questions to make the nation stronger.” A true patriot asks questions only to make the country stronger. “We are witnessing the failure of administration in Jammu and Kashmir. To this day, no one has been held accountable for the security lapse in Pahalgam — Because the Prime Minister does not have sindoor in his veins, only politics. The word empathy is missing from the Central Government’s vocabulary.” The word ‘empathy’ does not exist for this Government. ” During Operation Sindoor, what was the BJP doing? They were busy putting up war-time posters of the Prime Minister — as if it were he, and not our brave soldiers, who were fighting the war.” “Why was the Prime Minister’s image shown wearing military uniform? Is that empathy — or politics?” “Twenty-six people died in Pahalgam. Sixteen people died in the border regions. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs — people of all faiths — have perished. But did the Central Government show any real concern about Poonch?” “Only a single leader worried about the border areas. Our leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, was not impressed by the war rhetoric on TV. She instructed us to go to the border villages, witness the reality, help the people, and stand beside them. While the Prime Minister never went to Poonch &Rajouri, we did. A five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress went, on our leader’s instructions, to the affected villages and towns — places no one had visited, where no one had asked the people, “How are you?” We were delivering a message of compassion, while the BJP was delivering election speeches. I want to ask the Central Government — during the mock drills before Operation Sindoor, why were the border areas not evacuated?” Why were the border villages not evacuated before Operation Sindoor? Why were they left as sitting duck for Pakistani shelling? “Why weren’t civilians relocated to safer zones? If sindoor flows in your veins, where is the compassion? We saw immense suffering in the border villages and towns. These places are directly in the line of fire during wartime, yet they are the most vulnerable and neglected. Sixteen people were killed and 88 injured in cross-border shelling during Operation Sindoor. In Poonch, we visited the Thakur family home, where a massive shell fell through the roof into their bedroom while they were sleeping, destroying the entire house. We met Amarjeet Singh’s family. He was hit by shrapnel and rushed to Poonch district hospital, which failed to provide proper treatment. His two young children will never see their father again. We visited a Christian school where twin siblings, Urfa Fatima and Zain Ali, died from a shell attack at home. Another student lost his hand due to injury. Fourteen-year-old children — dead or maimed. We learned that a beloved schoolteacher, Qari Mohammad Iqbal, died from shelling. The ‘Godi media’ falsely branded him a terrorist and spread fake news that he died in Pakistan. People of all faiths — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs — have been victims of Pakistan’s shelling. Yet this Government and its supporters keep chanting ‘Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Muslim.’ Let me say something about the media. As a journalist, I am deeply saddened and angry at how the Government manipulates the media to spread fake news. During wartime, spreading disinformation is a crime. Lying to citizens during a crisis is unjust. Our national motto is Satyameva Jayate — Truth alone triumphs. But this Government does not believe in truth. The Prime Minister does not hold press conferences, does not answer questions, does not speak the truth to the nation. Instead, the media spreads government-fed lies. A truly patriotic government would speak the truth first — and earn the people’s trust. If sindoor truly flows in your veins, why are you afraid of the truth? From Poonch, we went to Rajouri, where the District Magistrate, Rajkumar Thapa, was killed by a shell in his own home. In Rajouri hospital, we met 16-year-old Rafia, who was seriously injured. Through tears, she asked me, “Didi, will I walk again? Will I run again?” So many questions remain. Why is there no proper security in the border areas? Why are there no good hospitals? Why haven’t bunkers been built in homes? Why is the Centre shirking responsibility for the safety of border villages?” Why is the Central Government not taking responsibility for the safety and security of the border villages? What is it doing about the border villages?” You only print posters, but we have seen the ground reality in Poonch and Rajouri — where people are left to their fate. All they needed was a healing touch, which your Government completely failed to provide. “You have been unable to provide the healing touch. And the reason you couldn’t — is because you have no sindoor in your veins. Only politics. Pahalgam was a massive security failure. It cannot be forgiven. The Baisaran meadow, where the terrorist attack happened, is a major tourist spot with thousands of daily visitors. Why was it not secured? Why was no force deployed there? The Home Minister claimed in an all-party meeting that the administration had no knowledge that tourists were present in Baisaran. He even said they went without police permission. But in reality, no police permission is ever required to visit Baisaran. The Home Minister’s statement is not correct. Where is the accountability? Where is the responsibility? How much more irresponsibility will be tolerated?” Can there be a more shocking and complete abdication of all responsibility and accountability on the part of the Central Government which lacks empathy, which lacks accountability, which lacks responsibility and which cannot take responsibility when 26 innocents have died on its watch? “Kashmir’s security is directly under the Centre. The responsibility for the breach lies squarely with the Centre. How long will the Home Minister avoid accountability? Why hasn’t the Lieutenant Governor of Kashmir — who considers himself the ruler — resign? Why hasn’t the Home Minister resign? Any self-respecting Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor of Kashmir would have resigned by now.” The Government falsely claims that Kashmir is normal. They keep spreading this.” “But if Kashmir is truly normal, why did such a huge attack happen at Baisaran? The administration failed. Intelligence agencies failed. The answer to “Is Kashmir normal?” is a resounding ‘no’. In 2018, there were 228 terrorist attacks. In 2019, over 150. In 2020, over 100. In 2021 and 2022, again over 100. In 2023, more than 50 terrorist attacks. And the Centre still says everything is normal. Our soldiers are dying. In 2018, 91 jawans lost their lives. In 2019, 80. In 2020, 63. If Jammu and Kashmir were normal, why so many attacks? Why are Kashmiri Pandits afraid to return? In 2019, the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, promising peace and prosperity. Before the elections, the Prime Minister promised to restore statehood — but hasn’t fulfilled that promise. To this Government, Kashmir is just a piece of land. But after Pahalgam, ordinary Kashmiris took to the streets in protest against terrorism — yet your cheerleader and media cell labelled them with derogatory names. You refuse to recognise that Kashmir is the heart of India’s multi-religious, multi-cultural identity. It’s not just about roads and bridges. It’s about building trust and relationships. But you divide and rule — always Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Muslim. That is why we say: Prime Minister, there is no sindoor in your veins — only politics.” “Now, on the matter of the India–Pakistan ceasefire — the Central Government has given no clarification. Donald Trump has taken credit for the ceasefire 27 times. If this is false, why has the Government not objected? Compare this with 1971, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi never bowed before US President Nixon or accepted his terms. Today, it seems the Centre is subservient to the United States. Why is this Government kneeling before the United States?” We want to say that our brave soldiers have sacrificed their lives. Border villagers have been devastated. Helpless tourists have been killed. And yet, all you do is play politics. For the BJP, Operation Sindoor is just an election issue. But we come from the land of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda. We know what true patriotism is. Bose’s nationalism was not for electoral gain — it was to strengthen and unite the country. No; hon. Prime Minister, you do not have sindoor in your veins. You have only politics. You are dividing India — dividing Bengalis and Bengali-speaking people by calling them Bangladeshis. You are weakening the country. You are playing the divide and rule policy. That is why we say: No, Prime Minister, you do not have sindoor in your veins. Only politics flows through your veins. You do not have sindoor in your veins; you only have politics and more politics in your veins. Thank you.”
