Congress slams Modi government over fighter jet losses

KARACHI: The Indian National Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of misleading the nation about Indian Air Force (IAF) losses during Operation Sindoor and demanded answers over what it called a “politically constrained” military operation against Pakistan in May 2025.

The sharp criticism followed reported remarks made by India’s defence attache to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, who, while speaking at a recent seminar in Jakarta, acknowledged the loss of IAF fighter jets during the operation. The Congress cited his comments and reiterated its call for an all-party meeting and a special session of parliament to address unanswered questions about the conflict.

“The Indian Air Force lost fighter jets on the night of May 7, 2025, while targeting Pakistani terror infrastructure -- ‘only because of constraints given by the political leadership’”, Congress wrote on X. “These are the words of India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, who acknowledged the loss of India’s fighter jets at a seminar in Indonesia last month”.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh amplified the party’s demand by sharing a media report quoting Capt Shiv Kumar’s remarks. According to the report, made during a seminar titled “Analysis of the Pakistan–India Air Battle and Indonesia’s Anticipatory Strategies from the Perspective of Air Power” on June 10 at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma, Capt Kumar said that while he “may not agree…