July 29, 2025
Lok Sabha MP Sayani Ghosh’s speech during the Special Discussion on Operation Sindoor
Thank you, Honorable Chairperson Sir. First of all, I would like to take permission to speak from here, and to do so in a mix of Bengali, Hindi, and English. Thank you, Chairman Sir, for allowing me to speak today on a critical and sensitive issue of Operation Sindoor. After many years, the people of India witnessed a time when going beyond caste, religion, political differences and disagreements, and everyone came together for the sake of the country. Rich Indians or poor Indians, Hindus or Muslim Indians, Sikhs or Christian Indians, believers or atheist Indians, from Indians participating in mock drills ready for war footing, all sang in an absolute harmony. “तेरी लम िी मेंलमल ज व ां गलु बनके मैंलखल ज व ां हैइतनी-सी लदल की आरजू। Sir, we salute and congratulate the Indian Armed Forces. But alongside this, there are some questions for the Prime Minister of our country, which I ask not only as an MP or on behalf of my party, but on behalf of one hundred and forty crore Indians. For that, you can call me a critic of the government, you may call my statement politically motivated, but please do not label me a traitor. That is because I am a daughter of the country, an elected representative, a nationalist citizen, and also a Bengali. Sir, I am a Bengali, and we all know that Vande Mataram is a war cry that originated from Bengal. Our forefathers have shed blood for this country and we continue to sacrifice our lives for the unity and sovereignty of this great nation. On April 22, 26 innocent Indian lives were lost in the Pakistansponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Among them were Manish Ranjan and Sameer Guha from Bengal, and Bitan Adhikari from Jadabpur Lok Sabha constituency. I went to his residence. The devastated parents, aged 80-85, were standing in front of their son’s coffin, a small child was running from one room to another crying, and the distraught wife was wailing. एक चटुकी लसांदूर की कीमत येगद्द र प लकस्त न और बजुलदल आतांकव दी क्य ज ने, नरवेर मोदी जी यह ज नतेथेऔर इसीललए उवहोंनेन म रख ‘ऑपरशे न लसांदूर’ लजसेसनुकर सबकी भ वन एांज ग उठी और प्रध नमांत्री जी सेहम री उम्मीदेंबहुत ज्य द बढ़ गई। (But is all truly well that ends well? Was the Prime Minister able to keep the country’s dignity, influence, and glory intact until the end? सर, कह नी बहुत अच्छी बनी, पकौडेबहुत अच्छेबने, लेलकन सरसों की जगह लकरोसीन तेल ड ल लदय , बस यही हो गय । The vermilion issue will come later. First, we need to know where all these militants came from. Today the home minister was saying: “आए तो क्य हुआ, आ गए तो आ गए।” It doesn’t work that way. Where thousands of tourists could reach, where 4 militants could reach, why couldn’t 10 policemen reach? We want to know this. सर, हम कहेंगेलक आपनेघर मेंघसु कर म र तो आप बोलेंगे देशप्रेमी, हम पूछेंगेलक आतांकव दी कह ां सेआए तो आप बोलेंगेदेशरोही, हम बोलेंगेव ह मोदी जी, व ह तो आप बोलेंगे लक देशप्रेमी, हम बोलेंगेनरवेर मोदी जी जव ब दो तो आप बोलेंगेदेशरोही, ऐस नहीं होत है। आपकेऔर हम रेबोलनेसेकोई ज त भी नहीं, आत भी नहीं। Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha publicly said after the Pahalgram incident that this was a grave security lapse. If this was really a grave security failure, then why was the Intelligence Bureau chief not held accountable? Why was his tenure extended by a month, and was he rewarded? You should have removed him. By removing him, you would have sent a message to the people of the country. It is a grave security lapse. But you did not do that. Yesterday Honorable Shri Jay Panda was saying that probably one militant was killed in Operation Mahadev. Today the Home Minister is saying that three persons have been killed. Fortunately we started the discussion two days ago. Had we started two months ago, we might have been able to put more pressure and catch the terrorists earlier. We know what is happening. The Home Minister has said many times in Parliament and during the election campaigns and even today he has stated that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is ours, and we will anyhow reclaim it back. I want to know why didn’t we do it even though we had such a golden opportunity? There is no place for intelligence failure and security lapse in this country. आपनेईटां क जव ब ईटां सेलदय , देश च हत थ लक आप ईटां क जव ब पत्थर दो। पहले बोलतेहैंलक पीओके हम र ह, ै इसेलेकर छोडेंगे। आज पहलेलदन सेबोल रहेहैंलक हम nonescalatory हैं। वेम रगेंेतो लफर हम म रगेंे, लफर वो म रगें, े लफर हम म रगेंे, वो दो म रगेंे, हम दस म रगेंे, वो 26 म रगेंेहम 100 म रगेंे। उरी होग , ब ल कोट होग , पलुव म होग और उसके ब द लफर कोई अटैक होग , लफर पहलग म होग , लफर ऑपरशे न लसांदूर होग , यह लसललसल चलत रहेग , लोगों की ज न ज ती रहेगी। र जन थ जी कल बोल रहेथेलक यद्धु उनके स थ होत हैजो आपकेबर बरी केहों, इसमें बर बरी की कोई ब त नहीं है। क्य श्री र म और र वि बर बर थे, नहीं थे? धमषपर अधमषकी ब त होती ह, ै वय य पर अवय य की ब त होती है, ऐसेनहीं होत है। वह कल बोल रहेथेलक छोटी-छोटी चीजों को नजरअांद ज कीलजए। ररजकट क्य है, वह देलखए, पेलवसल टूटी य नहीं, परीक्ष हॉल में लेट पहुांचेय नहीं, येसब इम्पप टेंट नहीं हैं। यह ां च च चौधरी नेपेपर लीक कर लदय , अभी आप फस्टषआएां य ल स्ट आए, ां उससेक्य फकष पडत है? Sir, no one wants war. Everyone wants peace. No one wants any bloodshed, no one wants destruction, every one desires harmony and progress.) हम भी सोचतेहैंलक ‘यलद जांग लछडी तो दकु नों क क्य होग , बांदूकें तो लबक ज एगां ी लेलकन गलु दस्तों क क्य होग ।’ But was this not the right time and the right opportunity to give Pakistan a befitting reply and let them know लक वजीरआे जम आपके झांडेपर च ांद हैलेलकन हम र झांड च ांद पर है? प लकस्त न को पत चलनेदो लक वह ां के लोग एक लकलो आटेके ललए आपस मेंलडतेहैंऔर हम हर लदन गरुुद्व रेमेंपूरी और हलव ब ांट करतेहैं। आपको फकष पत चल रह होग , लेलकन जव ब नहीं देप ए। Despite being at an advantage, we surrendered to external interference in the internal matter of this country. Yes, Jammu & Kashmir is an internal matter of India. (Just as one militant stronghold after another was being destroyed, the enthusiasm of the people of the country was increasing. At that very moment, the people of India came to know from the message on social media of US President Donald Trump that Operation Sindoor had been suspended. With the intervention of America, India declared a ceasefire three days after the war started. Whereas on the 9th, US Vice President JD Vance had said, ‘It is fundamentally none of our business’. The US President is saying on 10th May:) “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both countries on using common sense and great intelligence.” On 11th May, he is claiming that) “I will work with you both to see if after a thousand years a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.” (On 12th May, he is again claiming:) “My administration helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire, I think a permanent one, between Pakistan and India.” (On 13th May, he is again saying:) “I used trade to a large extent to do it. And I said, ‘Fellows, come on. Let us make a deal. Let us do some trading’.” महोदय, आप इनकी भ ष देलखए। (Since 10th May till yesterday, American President has made 28 such claims and sent a message across the entire world that Trump has stopped the war.) 28 ब र अमरीक के प्रेजीडेंट नेपूरी दलुनय को मैसेज लदय लक ट्रम्प नेव र रुकव दी, प प । होम लमलनस्टर बोल रहेथेलक मॉनेकश ह जी नेकह लक Bhutto made a … out of Indira Gandhi. पूर देश बोल रह ह, ैपूर लवश्व बोल रह हैthat Trump made a … of Narendra Modi. (Yesterday, the hon. Defence Minister did not utter a word on this. The hon. Foreign Minister mentioned this in a single line.) नहीं, नहीं हम रेस थ ट्रेड की कोई ब त नहीं हुई है। मतलब ररस्क हम लें, ऑपरशे न हम करेंऔर खीर च च चौधरी ख कर चल ज ए। क्य इसके ललए हम यह ांबैठेहैं? इस लड ई मेंश यद आप जीत गए, लेलकन नेरलेटव की लड ई मेंआप ह र गए। आप देश को बत नहीं प ए लक अधमषपर धमष की जीत हुई है। प लकस्त न पर लफर सेलहांदस्ुत न की जीत हुई है। आप देश को ठीक सेबत नहीं प ए। प्रेस और मीलडय की श यद कुछ गैर लजम्मेद र भूलमक रही होगी। लोगों को बहक नेक क म लकय गय । खबर ऐसी बन देतेथेलक आज मैंकोलक त मेंसोनेज ऊांगी और कल मेरी नींद कर ची मेंखलुेगी। आज लखनऊ मेंमैंलडनर करूां गी और कल ल हौर मेंब्रेकफ स्ट करूां गी। ऐस नहीं चल सकत है। (Sir, we would not ask how many fighter jets were shot down.) हमेंइस सबसेकोई मतलब नहीं है। ह , ाँव र हुई। हम रेदो लगर, े आपके दस लगरेहोंगे। हमेंपत हैलक यह कोई पब्जी गेम नहीं हैलक बेड रूम य बॉलकनी मेंबैठकर खेल रहेहैं। ऐस नहीं होत है। हम लजम्मेद र लोग हैंलेलकन आपको यह भी समझन पडेग लक Indians need transparency and accountability. They need their leader, their Prime Minister, to stand up and speak. मन की ब त 124 ब र हुई थी, यह 125 ब र हो ज ती। इसमेंकौन-सी बडी ब त है। आप बोल रहेहैंलक हम आपसेसव ल न कर।ें यह प लकस्त न नहीं है, जह ां सरक रेंकम चलती ह लेलकन त न श ही ज्य द चलती है। यह भ रत है। यह ां रूललांग प टी यलद देश चल ती हैतो येसत्त लवपक्ष सेचलती है। यह प लकस्त न की सांसद नहीं है, जह ां26 लोग म रेज नेपर उनकी मौत क जशन मन य ज त हैऔर जह ांप लललटलशयवस और आमी चीफ के यह ां टेररेरस्ट्स को जवमलदन, श दी य मय्यत मेंबलु तेहैं। ऐस नहीं होत है। होम लमलनस्टर नेआज कह लक हमनेदलुनय के स मनेप लकस्त न को बेनक ब कर लदय । (See, even after having so much evidence, soon after the attacks, Pakistan managed to get monetary sanctions of 1 billion and 40 billion from the IMF and the World Bank, respectively. It got a long-term investment opportunity. And a terror manufacturing country like Pakistan became the Vice-chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council. Of course, everybody will condemn and criticise terrorism but there was no diplomatic isolation for Pakistan from any country of the world. मोदी जी, आपके56 इांच क दबदब कह ांगय ? You call yourselves the friends of the world- the “Viswaguru”. You visited 33 countries during this difficult time to earn their support, but how many countries directly showed their solidarity towards you? We have read their feedback. Some of them have thanked America, some stayed neutral, and some remained silent. The Prime Minister has travelled abroad 8 times since the Pahalgam incident. What is the use of travelling the world when everyone is also indulging in discussions with you and no one is there to help in the time of crisis? कल अनरु ग जी बोल रहेथेलक हम लकसी के प स सहयोग म ांगनेनहीं गए। हम केवल लववरि देनेगए थेलक हम कैसेजीते? खदु क लढांढोर क्य पीटन ? पूर देश, पूर लवश्व देख रह है। आप पर क्रमी बने, लवजयी बने, येतो लोग बोलेंगेन, आपको इतनी स री जगहों पर ज नेकी क्य जरूरत है? You could neither be a friend of the world nor a friend of the country. Such a massive incident happened in Pahalgam, and you did not go there. 27 people died in cross-border shelling in Poonch, Rajaouri, Uri; but you did not go there. The All India Trinamool Congress delegation reached 4 kilometres near the Pakistan border, but you could not reach there either. The countrymen wanted you to go there just once and stand there. An all-party meeting was held, but you did not come there. सर, आप हमेश बोलतेहैंलक हमनेलकय है, हमनेलकय है, आपनेकेवल अकेलेनहीं लकय है। इांलडयन आम्डषफोसषनेलकय है, 140 करोड देशव लसयों नेलकय है। लकसी क कुछ नहीं आत । सबक वक्त आत हैऔर लजसक वक्त आत है, उसकेप स सब आत है। यह हम र वक्त है। I only want to say that across party lines, everybody stood united behind you. Year after year, you have deprived Bengal. You have disrespected the Bengali language and its people. Still, the people of our state, our Honorable Chief Minister, and our Party didn’t play any political games in this tumultuous time. They showed unconditional and unquestioned support. Our leader, Abhishek Banerjee, travelled with the delegation you sent, and sang praises of our country in foreign lands. He has established himself as a nationalist and a dedicated Indian. But what have we got in return, sir? We need to hear this. Your leader, one Union Minister of State, was standing in the heart of West Bengal and saying that Operation Sindoor has been done, and then Operation West Bengal will be carried out. आप बोलतेहैंन, लक ममत दीदी ब ांवल देलशयों को बांग ल मेंघसुव ती हैं, तो बॉडषर में आतांकव लदयों को कौन घसु रह ह, ैइसक जव ब भी आपको देन पडेग लक यह क म भी बांग ल की दीदी कर रही हैं। स मनेइलेक्शन है, तो वह भी आपबोल सकतेहैं। Conduct the election tomorrow. Do it tomorrow. On one side is you and your money, your central agency, unlimited power; on the other side, Honorable Mamata Banerjee- the Bengali woman who wears sandals. सर, मैंऔर ज्य द नहीं बोलन च हती। मैंकेवल एक ही शब्द बोलूांगी। … We are the world’s largest democracy. We are proud of our democratic practices. We are proud of our Army, our naval and our air defence machinery. We are proud of the professionalism and the precision with which the air strikes were carried out against Pak terror bases and air bases – a roaring success story of India’s strengthening military capabilities over decades. We are proud of our daughters – Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. It is a shining example of secularism and women empowerment in the country. सर, अब मैंअांलतम ल इन बोलन च ह ांगी। हमेंगवषहैलक आपनेएक सौ आतांकव लदयों को म र लगर य , पर हम तो च हतेथेलक ऐस एक भी न बचे, लजससेभलवष्ट्य मेंभ रत की बहनों-बलेटयों के लसांदूर को खतर हो। च हेवेआतांकव दी हों, प लकस्त न हो य प लकस्त न को ऑक्सीजन देनेव ल चीन हो, India has to give out the message loud and clear. We will not fear. We will not be afraid. Before death beckons us, we don’t die. “हम डरगेंेनहीं, डरगेंेनहीं। मरनेसेपहलेमरगेंेनहीं, मरगेंेनहीं॥ हम अमन च हतेहैं, मगर जुकम के लखल फ। अगर जांग ल लजमी है, तो लफर जांग ही सही॥” थैंक्यूसर।
