By May 14, when the Congress announced a nationwide series of “Jai Hind” rallies accusing the BJP of politicising “Operation Sindoor”, the party had largely calibrated its response to the Modi government’s handling of the recent Indo-Pak conflict.
This came a day after the BJP launched its 11-day Tiranga Yatra (May 13–23), aimed at highlighting the government’s response to Pakistan—a country it repeatedly called a “rogue state”—and at instilling national pride and unity. The yatra began in Delhi on May 13, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s televised address asserting that “terror and talk” and “terror and trade” cannot coexist, nor can “blood and water”.
On May 14, the BJP held its Tiranga Yatra in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due.In Lucknow, during the launch of the “Bharat Shaurya Tiranga Yatra” on May 14, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath framed the event as an expression of gratitude to Modi, respect for the tricolour, and a tribute to Indian soldiers. He also ramped up anti-Pakistan rhetoric, declaring that terrorism would one day “swallow Pakistan”. In a State where Pakistan often figures symbolically in debates over “kabristan” versus “shamshan”, the BJP’s fusion of subaltern Hindutva with muscular nationalism appeared firmly on display.
At Bhuj Air Force Station on May 16, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed Pakistan “bowed down” to India’s BrahMos missile power. Days earlier, on May 11 in Lucknow, he inaugurated a BrahMos Aerospace Testing Facility and described Operation Sindoor as more than a military action—it was, he said, a symbol of India’s political, social, and strategic will. “BrahMos is in itself a message,” Singh posted on X.
He also linked the defence initiative to the government’s larger goal of making Uttar Pradesh a defence manufacturing hub, noting that the Defence Corridor traversing Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Agra, and Aligarh would soon become vital development centres. The event was pointedly held on National Technology Day—the anniversary of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests under the Atal Vajpayee government.
In Bihar, where a high-stakes electoral battle between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan looms, State BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal said the Tiranga Yatra would be held across all divisions, with MPs, MLAs, and local party leaders participating. “BJP will increase awareness about Operation Sindoor and its significance for national security and sovereignty,” he told reporters on May 14.
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Later this year, Bihar heads to the polls. The NDA in Bihar, led by Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United), faces nearly two decades of anti-incumbency, with just a brief break in between. In the State’s caste-fractured politics, the BJP has built its support through a combination of Hindutva rhetoric and outreach to caste-neutral voter blocs, particularly women. The symbolism of “Sindoor” and national security resonates powerfully in this context.
Opposition’s hesitation
The Opposition is cautious not to challenge the nationalist narrative head-on and risk alienating voters. When asked about the Tiranga Yatra, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav sidestepped the bait, saying he hoped the yatra would be held in Pakistan too. While praising the armed forces, he added that they were capable of “obliterating Pakistan from the world’s map”.
The Congress, often caught off guard by the BJP’s aggressive patriotism, convened a meeting of its available Working Committee members on May 14. Party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal announced that the Congress would hold “Jai Hind Sabhas” across the country from May 20–30—in cities such as Delhi, Barmer, Shimla, Haldwani, Patna, Jabalpur, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Pathankot.
While the party said the events—featuring army veterans, party leaders, and the public—were meant to salute the armed forces’ valour, it also pointedly added that “serious questions” must be raised about security lapses, the government’s handling of national security, and “its silence on the concerning involvement of the US in our national security matters”.
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh condemned what he called the “politicisation” of Operation Sindoor, insisting no single party has a monopoly on it. In a striking move, the Congress used US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he helped mediate the India-Pakistan ceasefire to punch holes in the Modi government’s nationalist image. The party kept asking why Modi remained silent on Trump’s statements.
The Congress Working Committee’s resolution on May 14—three weeks after the April 22 Pahalgam attack—said the assault raised disturbing questions about intelligence failure. Despite known threats and heightened tensions, terrorists had succeeded in executing a major attack.
The meeting, chaired by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s absence, noted that “no accountability has been fixed” and that the attackers remain at large. The Congress demanded an explanation for why preventive measures had not been taken, despite clear warnings. It also criticised what it called the premature end to India’s retaliatory action against Pakistan, claiming it left “a trail of unanswered questions”.
“National security cannot be managed through public relations exercises on television; it demands professional rigour, vigilance, and institutional accountability,” the resolution read. It also flagged Trump’s boast that he secured the ceasefire using trade threats and pressure on India. “The sudden halt without clarity or communication has led to speculation and concern across the country,” it said.
Jairam Ramesh, separately, was more caustic: “A few days ago, we learnt of the ceasefire with Pakistan from the President of the United States. Now, at a public event in Saudi Arabia, the President reveals that he may have coerced and blackmailed India into this ceasefire using sanctions and trade deals. What do the typically loquacious PM and EAM have to say about this? Did they mortgage India’s security interests in the face of US pressure? Ameriki papa ne war rukwa di kya?”
On May 11, Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Modi, demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and the ceasefire—first announced from Washington, DC, and later by India and Pakistan.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) also called for an urgent Parliament session. “Matters of national security, sovereignty and foreign policy must be debated in the House—the highest democratic forum—not through one-sided televised monologues,” the party said. CPI general secretary D. Raja questioned the nature of US involvement and Modi’s silence: “What led to the Pahalgam attack? Why didn’t the PM even mention those who died? Why did Trump announce the ceasefire before Indian authorities? Why a televised monologue instead of a statement in Parliament?”
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As the BJP prepared to brief Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled States on the future of Operation Sindoor, questions emerged about why States near Pakistan—like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, all ruled by the Opposition—were being kept out. Some outreach to opposition leaders is expected before May 24, when NDA Chief Ministers are likely to meet the BJP top brass after the NITI Aayog gathering.
The author and journalist Sharat Pradhan told Frontline: “When India hit back—even after a fortnight’s delay—Modi was hailed. Even his critics believed he’d delivered a befitting reply to our rogue neighbour. But when he bowed to Donald Trump’s diktat, even his andh-bhakts wondered what had happened to their idol. His silence on Trump’s self-proclaimed ceasefire made a proud and self-reliant India appear to wilt before a failed nation like Pakistan.”
As parties trade accusations and patriotism becomes campaign currency, critical questions remain unanswered: Why did the Pahalgam attack occur despite intelligence alerts? What exactly did Operation Sindoor achieve? And why did the United States become the unlikely narrator of an India–Pakistan ceasefire? For voters across the Hindi belt—and beyond—these questions may prove more urgent than the symbolism wrapped in flag rallies and speeches.
Source:https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/operation-sindoor-tiranga-yatra-congress-bjp-nationalism/article69583248.ece