Revanth Reddy’s Remarks on Rafale, PoK Spark BJP Backlash

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has stirred major political controversy after demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi explain to 140 crore Indians how many Rafale fighter jets were shot down by the Pakistani military during India’s Operation Sindoor.

Speaking at the ‘Jai Hind’ rally in Hyderabad on Thursday, Reddy questioned the Centre’s handling of national security matters, and criticised PM Modi for not holding an all-party meeting before calling off hostilities with Pakistan. He also alleged that the Prime Minister failed to deliver on the expectations of separating Balochistan from Pakistan and reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“The soldiers from this Secunderabad Cantonment fought in the war. The aircraft manufactured in Telangana upheld our country’s honour. Rafale jets brought in by Narendra Modi were shot down by Pakistan — but there’s no discussion on how many. Modi must answer to the nation,” Reddy said, as quoted by news agency PTI. He further claimed that defence contracts worth thousands of crores were awarded to individuals close to the Prime Minister who facilitated the Rafale deal.

The Chief Minister recalled that senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Meenakshi Natarajan, had extended their support to the NDA government during the conflict, setting aside political differences in the interest of national security.

Reddy questioned the sudden de-escalation of tensions, citing former US President Donald Trump’s statement claiming to have intervened to halt the war. “After four days of war, no one knows who threatened whom and who backed down,” he said.

He also accused China of encroaching upon 4,000 sq km of Indian territory, criticising the Modi government for not issuing a strong response. Referring to historical precedents, Reddy said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sent a clear message to the world by defeating China in 1967 and standing firm against US pressure during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

BJP’s Strong Response

The Bharatiya Janata Party swiftly hit back at Reddy, accusing him of undermining the Indian armed forces and echoing Pakistan’s narrative. The Telangana BJP unit posted a sharp response on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Reddy referred to Pakistan as “Mana Pakistan” (Our Pakistan), a phrase they claimed aligned with Islamabad’s rhetoric.

“From questioning Surgical Strikes and Balakot to mocking our armed forces and opposing Agnipath — standing against India is in Congress’s DNA,” the BJP posted. They also advised the Chief Minister to “stick to Miss World photo ops,” adding, “National security isn’t your ramp. When the nation wins, Congress sulks.”