Congress veteran and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has triggered a major political controversy with his remarks on ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack, and has made it clear that he will not apologise or withdraw his statement.
Chavan came under sharp criticism after claiming that India faced a setback on the very first day of the operation. Speaking at an event in Pune earlier this week, he alleged that Indian military aircraft were shot down by Pakistani forces during an initial aerial engagement, leading to the Indian Air Force being forced to ground its fleet due to the high risk involved.
As the remarks drew strong reactions, Chavan on Wednesday stood firm, rejecting any suggestion of an apology. “I will not say sorry… haven’t said anything wrong and have nothing to apologise for,” he said. He further added, “I don’t want to say anything more now… but I will not apologise. There is no need… I did not make any wrong comment.”
The former chief minister’s comments have added fuel to an already heated political atmosphere, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party expected to raise the issue aggressively in Parliament.
Chavan’s assertion that the Indian Air Force was “completely grounded” has been particularly contentious.
Explaining his position, Chavan said, “On the first day (of Operation Sindoor), we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the air force was fully grounded.”
