A string of heated exchanges ensued between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, centered on Operation Sindoor and Murshidabad violence, with both leaders taking sharp digs at each other.
The two have been bitter rivals, leading political parties that have been consistently at odds with each other.
Even though Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won three consecutive national elections, it has never governed West Bengal. With the state heading to polls next year, the BJP has intensified its efforts to break this political dry spell.
Modi, in his first speech in West Bengal since Operation Sindoor, alleged that the state has become lawless and that people have lost faith in the All India Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) government. Further sniping at her name ‘Mamata’ - he said people do not want a ‘nirmam sarkar’ - which translates to cruel government in Hindi.
Modi also mentioned that Indian soldiers made terrorists realise the power of the sindoor that was wiped off “the foreheads of our sisters.” Banerjee stated that despite the opposition supporting government's retaliation - Modi is politicising the issue at the expense of opposition.
She asserted that though she has no comments on Operation Sindoor, every woman has respect. “Women accept sindoor only from their husbands. Why should they take it from you?” she said, adding that the Prime Minister is not the husband of everybody, why is he not giving sindoor to his own wife first.
In what Modi said is the sacred land of ‘Sindoor Khela’ - a festive Durga Puja tradition practiced by married women - he declared that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is not over yet.
The Chief Minister remarked that Modi is turning Operation Sindoor into a “business of sindoor” - attempting to gain political currency through the military operation - especially when lawmakers from Opposition parties including TMC are representing India’s message against terrorism and participating in the all-party delegation.
While Derek O'Brien, a TMC Parliamentary Leader in Rajya Sabha, said on X that “it took a woman to show Modi the mirror, Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's National Information and Technology Department, was quick to condemn her for mocking the sacrifice, patriotism, and the courage of India’s armed forces.
Meanwhile, several other opposition leaders have also voiced their opinions on Operation Sindoor, the military strike that gripped the nation on May 7. As the operation was launched, opposition political parties expressed solidarity with the air strikes aimed at nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan.
Skepticism Over Operation Sindoor
Congress Working Committee - the party’s highest decision-making body - said that it is the “time to be united” hours after the operation was launched. However, as the ceasefire was called on May 10, India’s Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, questioned the logistics of the operation and expressed skepticism over the transparency of information released.
Gandhi alleged that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar admitted that the Government of India alerted Pakistan of the attack beforehand, asking “who authorised it?”
Additionally, he raised questions on how many aircrafts the air force lost. MEA and the Press Information Bureau debunked the video that Gandhi had shared on social media supporting his claim, pointing out that Jaishankar was “misquoted”, and that the facts were being represented “falsely.”
The BJP later accused Gandhi of spreading propaganda and misinformation, with some of his own party members criticising his approach as an Opposition Leader.
Symbolism of Operation Sindoor’s Title
The choice of name for the operation has prompted scrutiny and multifaceted debate - for its strategic and sentimental values - both religious and gendered.
Hindu women in India apply sindoor or vermillion - a traditional red powder with cultural significance - on their forehead as a mark of marital status and prosperity. The operation was named after it to symbolize the revenge for women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Every terror organisation knows the consequence of wiping out the Sindoor of our sisters and daughters,” the Prime Minister said to the nation on May 12 - in what was his first address after the April 22 Pahalgam attack. This statement followed his declaration that the government had granted full freedom to the Indian armed forces to eliminate the terrorists.
Before opening fire, the terrorists identified Hindu and other non-Muslim men present at Baisaran valley in Anantnag district on April 22. These men were killed in front of their wives.
In a previous story by Outlook, it was mentioned that this operation was not just about women but also “muscular nationalism”, now a part of India’s cultural identity. Within May 10 and May 11, as many as 17 newborn girls in Uttar Pradesh were named ‘Sindoor’. Brands - including Reliance Industries Limited - rushed to trademark the title Operation Sindoor.
