Chandigarh (National Times): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his controversial remarks mocking Operation Sindoor, a recent military response by India to terrorist activity.
During a press conference, CM Mann made a jibe at reports suggesting that the BJP would distribute sindoor (vermilion) to households, saying, “Will you wear sindoor in Modi’s name? Is this a ‘One Nation, One Husband’ scheme?” The remark has triggered outrage from BJP leaders, who termed it “disrespectful” and “insensitive.”
BJP Punjab spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), sharing the video clip and condemning Mann’s remarks. “Bhagwant Mann has crossed all limits. He mocked Operation Sindoor with a shameful comment,” Baliawal wrote.
He further clarified that Operation Sindoor was named after sindoor became a tragic symbol during the recent Pahalgam terror attack, where terrorists targeted Hindus by checking their religious identity — sindoor often being used to identify Hindu women. “This was not about politics, but about terrorism, sacrifice, and saving innocent lives,” Baliawal stated.
“There is no BJP initiative involving the distribution of sindoor to every household,” he emphasized. “This was a military operation, not a political campaign. The CM’s crude attempt to turn a solemn operation into a punchline reveals his utter lack of sensitivity and respect for the armed forces and the families of martyrs.”
Baliawal called for Mann’s immediate resignation and a public apology, stating, “Only someone disconnected from the ground reality would joke about something that involved lives lost, military courage, and national security.”
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also lambasted the Punjab CM, calling his comments “shameful and anti-national in spirit.” “Ridiculing Operation Sindoor is an affront to the Indian Army and the people it seeks to protect,” Bhandari said, adding that the opposition’s remarks exposed their “true face.”
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a swift and decisive response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 Indian civilians were killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Indian armed forces retaliated by targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Following India’s strikes, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling, drone incursions, and attacks along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border. In response, the Indian military launched countermeasures, neutralizing Pakistan’s air defence systems, communication hubs, and inflicting damage on 11 military airbases.
A ceasefire agreement between the two nations was reached on May 10, bringing a temporary halt to the escalating hostilities.
While the military action was widely praised for its precision and effectiveness, CM Mann’s recent comments have sparked a fresh political controversy, with the BJP demanding accountability and respect for what they say was a moment of national pride and sacrifice.
