New Delhi: A special debate on 'Operation Sindoor' commenced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opening the discussion by warning Pakistan that India would not hesitate to resume strikes if any further misadventures were attempted.

Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May, was India’s military response to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead—most of them tourists.

During the course of the debate, BJP MP Anurag Thakur launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of appeasing Pakistan and questioning its stance on terrorism.

“Today, discussion on Operation Sindoor was to take place in the House, but there was a competition among the leaders of Congress as to who should come forward as the closest friend and dearest to Pakistan,” Thakur said.

He continued, “In the interview given by a former Home Minister yesterday, he said—‘If Pakistan did not have a hand in this, how can you say that the terrorists came from Pakistan?’... Sometimes they call it Hindu terrorism, sometimes they come to defend Pakistan. There are so many big advocates of Pakistan in the Congress party today that Pakistan defends itself later, and Congress leaders come to defend them. The Pakistani army and the Pakistani government are using the brothers of Lashkar-e-Rahul in their favour... Although it is INC, but from their statements and actions, it looks like it has become Islamabad National Congress...”

The remarks sparked uproar in the House, with Congress MPs objecting to the characterisation and demanding a retraction. However, BJP members continued to criticise the Opposition’s alleged “soft stance” on Pakistan and terrorism.