New Delhi: The Congress continues to demand transparency from the Central government about losses suffered by India during the military conflict with Pakistan post Operation Sindoor.
Telangana minister Uttar Kumar Reddy, who happens to be a former Air Force fighter pilot, said on Saturday that it’s time for the government to disclose how many Indian aircraft were shot down by Pakistan.
Reddy said the Centre can’t deny losses, referring to statements by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and other senior military officials.
“The fact that fighter aircraft were shot down is something the government needs to stop denying. The CDS himself mentioned that. Earlier, Air Marshal Bharti had mentioned it indirectly in his briefing report, along with the DGMO… The whole country must realise today that for some reason, the GoI was not upfront with whatever happened,” said Reddy.
Earlier in the day, the CDS admitted that Indian jets were brought down in the conflict.
General Chauhan said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore that it’s not important exactly how many planes were lost, but why they were down.
Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti had earlier said in a press conference that “losses are a part of combat.”
Reddy agreed with General Chauhan on the importance of acknowledging and rectifying mistakes.
“That is what Rahul Gandhi said in the first instance, against which lots of negative campaigns have been done by the BJP,” added the Congress leader.
After Rahul asked for more information about India’s losses, BJP’s national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia slammed the Congress leader as being “irresponsible” and “Nishan-e-Pakistan.”
Congress and other Opposition parties have been demanding a special Parliament session on Operation Sindoor.
