Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the opposition to stand united after India carried out one of its most significant cross-border strikes, known as 'Operation Sindoor', sources told India Today. The operation targeted terrorist camps deep inside Pakistan in response to a deadly attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, where 26 people, including tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator, were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.

The Prime Minister’s message to the all-party meeting on Thursday was clear: "Every Indian citizen needs to stand united." This meeting, held to brief all political parties on the success of 'Operation Sindoor', marked the first time Modi made public remarks after the strikes, as reported by India Today.

All-party meeting and support for armed forces

The all-party meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by several senior ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress leader Sandip Bandyopadhyay, and DMK's TR Baalu, were also present. Other leaders, like Ram Gopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Sanjay Singh from AAP, and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, were also in attendance.

The opposition expressed full support for the government's actions. Kharge, speaking to the media after the meeting, stated, "We have extended our full support to the government." Unlike after the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, where the opposition had criticised the government, this time, there was praise for the armed forces' bravery.

Operation Sindoor: A retaliatory strike on terror camps

The operation saw the Indian Army and Air Force destroy nine terrorist camps linked to the groups Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). These strikes were a direct retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam, which was carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists. The operation aimed to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure and send a strong message to Pakistan about India’s readiness to protect its citizens.

Opposition's changing tone since 2019

The Congress Working Committee, which met on Wednesday, also sent a message of unity. They declared their unconditional support for the government. This was a shift from their previous stance after the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, when the Congress and 20 other opposition parties had criticised the government for politicising the sacrifices made by the armed forces in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. The Congress had even demanded proof of the Balakot strikes, a move that led to much criticism from the BJP, which accused them of being "anti-national".

This change in tone is seen as a strategic shift, as opposition leaders now stand behind the government in supporting the armed forces. However, the Centre has urged all states to increase surveillance of anti-national propaganda on social media and take swift action to tackle misinformation, particularly following a disinformation campaign launched by Pakistan after 'Operation Sindoor'.

 

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