'Full context ignored': Defence ministry responds as Congress brings up Rajnath Singh's 'no soldiers killed during Op Sindoor' speech
The Defence Ministry clarifies that the ninister's statement referred to a specific false narrative about Indian pilots being killed, not the overall casualty count of Indian soldiers
The Ministry of Defence has dismissed as "deliberately misleading" and "factually incorrect" Congress allegations that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed no Indian soldiers died during Operation Sindoor, clarifying that the minister's statement was a specific response to misinformation about Indian pilots being killed, and aimed to counter a narrative diminishing the operation's success. The ministry asserted that Operation Sindoor resulted in the neutralization of over 100 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers, with significant damage to Pakistani military infrastructure along the Line of Control, and that the minister's remarks were a tribute to the Indian Defence Forces' capabilities. However, the article also notes that the names of six military personnel – Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Mood Muralinaik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh from the Army, and Sergeant Surendra Kumar from the Indian Air Force – have been inscribed at the National War Memorial, commemorating their sacrifice during the operation in May 2025.
The Ministry of Defence has dismissed as "deliberately misleading" and "factually incorrect" Congress allegations that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed no Indian soldiers died during Operation Sindoor, clarifying that the minister's statement was a specific response to misinformation about Indian pilots being killed, and aimed to counter a narrative diminishing the operation's success. The ministry asserted that Operation Sindoor resulted in the neutralization of over 100 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers, with significant damage to Pakistani military infrastructure along the Line of Control, and that the minister's remarks were a tribute to the Indian Defence Forces' capabilities. However, the article also notes that the names of six military personnel – Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Mood Muralinaik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh from the Army, and Sergeant Surendra Kumar from the Indian Air Force – have been inscribed at the National War Memorial, commemorating their sacrifice during the operation in May 2025.
The Ministry of Defence has dismissed as "deliberately misleading" and "factually incorrect" Congress allegations that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed no Indian soldiers died during Operation Sindoor, clarifying that the minister's statement was a specific response to misinformation about Indian pilots being killed, and aimed to counter a narrative diminishing the operation's success. The ministry asserted that Operation Sindoor resulted in the neutralization of over 100 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers, with significant damage to Pakistani military infrastructure along the Line of Control, and that the minister's remarks were a tribute to the Indian Defence Forces' capabilities. However, the article also notes that the names of six military personnel – Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Mood Muralinaik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh from the Army, and Sergeant Surendra Kumar from the Indian Air Force – have been inscribed at the National War Memorial, commemorating their sacrifice during the operation in May 2025.
After the Congress alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had previously claimed that no Indian soldier was killed during the conflict, the Ministry of Defence dismissed the allegations as “deliberately misleading” and “factually incorrect.”
The Congress pointed to an earlier Parliamentary address by Singh, where in the minister says no Indian soldier was killed during the operation. Responding to this, the defence ministry said such claims “misrepresented” the defence minister's speech.
The defence ministry clarified that when the speech was made, there was a persistent effort in spreading misinformation that Indian pilots were killed during Operation Sindoor.
“This narrative was entirely false, yet it was being amplified aggressively with the clear intent of diminishing the success of the operation and demoralising public sentiment. It was in direct reference to this specific and mischievous narrative that the Raksha Mantri made the statement in question. His remarks were, therefore, a targeted and contextually specific response to a falsehood that was gaining dangerous traction at that moment," the ministry said.
The ministry stated that more than 100 terrorists and Pakistani soldiers were neutralised during Operation Sindoor and Pakistani air bases and military deployments along the Line of Control suffered “extensive and significant infrastructure damage”.
“The address was a fitting tribute to the courage and capability of the Indian Defence Forces, and a clear message to those who wish India harm," the statement added.
The names of six military personnel who died in the line of duty during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, have been inscribed on wall no. '3D' of Tyag Chakra at the National War Memorial as a tribute to the fallen heroes. The war heroes were identified as Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Agniveer Mood Muralinaik, Havildar Sunil Kumar Singh from the Army, and Indian Air Force's Sergeant Surendra Kumar.