" Ek Chutki Sindoor...": Rekha Gupta's "Filmy" Swipe At Jaya Bachchan
The opening day of the Delhi Assembly's Monsoon Session saw sharp political exchanges as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a scathing attack on the Opposition, accusing it of historical negligence on national security and questioning its stance on recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev.
"This wasn't just a military operation, it was about honouring our martyrs," Ms Gupta said during a debate on the Centre's recent actions. She was responding to the Opposition's remarks over the naming of Operation Sindoor, particularly remarks made in Parliament by Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan. "She asked why the operation was named Sindoor. I will answer her with a filmy dialogue - "' Ek chutki Sindoor ki kimat tum kya jano? ' (You don't know the value of a pinch of vermilion)."
Ms Bachchan had questioned why India's retaliatory action post-Pahalgam attack was named "Operation Sindoor", when women were widowed in the incident and actually "lost their sindoor".
The Chief Minister levelled a series of questions at the Opposition, referencing decisions made by previous governments during major national security events.
"When Pakistan occupied Kashmir, why didn't they take responsibility? Why didn't they take responsibility for Partition? For the war with China? Why was the 1965 war halted and taken to the UN? In 1971, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers were captured- why were they released unconditionally? Why was the Shimla Agreement signed? Why didn't they own up to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots or the stone-pelting in Kashmir?" she asked.
Hitting out at the Congress-led INDIA bloc, Ms Gupta said, "These leaders have formed a team, but when they speak, it's hard to tell whether they represent India, Pakistan, or America". "The so-called 'national sister' talks about taking credit. But their actions speak otherwise."
She further alleged that the Opposition has shown alignment with disruptive forces: "They don't love India, they trust anti-national forces."
Assembly Disruption: AAP MLA Marshalled Out
Earlier, the house witnessed chaos when AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor.
Speaker Vijender Gupta immediately intervened, objecting to his choice of words, directing that they would not remain on record. He also ordered the marshal to "escort him out". The Speaker later confirmed the remarks had been expunged from the Assembly proceedings.
Mr Jha's comments came during his speech on national security, triggering protests from BJP MLAs and warnings from the Chair. The MLA was escorted out of the House following repeated refusals to withdraw his statement.
Leadership, Legacy, and a Divided House
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ended her address by defending the government's record on national security and countering criticism from the opposition.
"In 2016, during the surgical strikes, they demanded proof, and we gave it. We brought back Abhinandan (Varthaman). The opposition will always find something to criticise," she said.
"This is not the India of pre-2014. Whenever storms threatened the nation, (PM) Modi stood like a shield. He is not just a leader, he is a symbol of light," Ms Gupta told the House.
The day concluded with the Assembly deeply polarised, one side questioning the legacy of past governments, the other challenging the narrative around recent military operations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India has drawn new red line against terror: J&K LG Manoj Sinha
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the government has drawn a new line against terrorism and that equal punishment will be meted out to terrorists and their sponsors. Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha handing over a job appointment letter to a family member of a terror victim in Srinagar on Tuesday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT) Addressing a gathering of terror victims in Srinagar, Sinha said, 'India has made it clear that if terror is state policy, it will be met with a visible and forceful response.' 'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has drawn a new red line against terrorism, and equal punishment will be given to terrorists and their sponsors,' he added. The LG handed over job appointment letters to 158 next of kin (NoKs) of terror victims. 'Wounds that have persisted for decades are now being healed. 158 NoKs of Kashmiri civilians killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists were handed over appointment letters. Today's landmark event provided a sense of closure to the families who have silently suffered trauma for years,' Sinha said in a series of posts on his official X handle. He said that for more than three decades, the 'terror state' Pakistan has been shedding innocent blood through its proxy terrorist outfits. 'Time did not erase the pain of loss. Invisible scars on their soul can be felt, and the mute eyes are witness to many unfulfilled dreams,' he said. 'The long wait for justice and for healing to begin is over for the terror victim families. They have come out to reveal the role of Pakistani terrorists and the terror ecosystem that was operating in J&K. Tribute to civilian martyrs and I salute the courage and perseverance of their loved ones,' he said. 'We will do everything possible for the rehabilitation of terror victims. It is my promise to the NoKs of terror victim families that perpetrators of heinous crimes will receive exemplary punishment. We'll also ensure the harshest possible punishment to terror sympathisers,' he added.
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Tariff war will have worse impact than Covid: Kerala minister Balagopal
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5 (PTI) Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Tuesday warned that the emerging global tariff war, led by the United States, could have a more damaging impact on the economy than the Covid pandemic. Speaking at a seminar on 'Post-Covid Development Challenges and Responses: Kerala through the Lens of State Budgets', organised by the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation here, Balagopal said, 'While India is being asked to reduce tariffs on imports, the US is imposing higher duties on our exports. This imbalance will affect the Indian economy." Citing examples, he said India has already reduced import duties on vehicles like Land Rover and Jaguar to 10 percent. At the same time, he alleged, international companies are pressuring India to lower its Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates. 'The state's revenue as a percentage of GSDP grew from 56 percent in 2020-21 to 74.89 percent in 2024-25," he said. Tax and non-tax revenues rose from Rs 54,000 crore in 2021 to Rs 92,000 crore in the last fiscal. Highlighting the government's priorities in recent years, Balagopal said the focus had been on strengthening infrastructure and social security. He termed the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport a significant achievement and added that the government had invested in enhancing research and development facilities at premier institutions in the state. The minister also criticised the GST regime introduced in 2017, calling the division of tax revenues between the Centre and states 'unjustifiable." 'Covid brought about social, political, and economic disruptions, leading to stagnation. The state is now striving to move forward from that," he added. The United States has slapped a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods as part of a broad trade measure targeting nearly 70 countries, according to an executive order issued by the White House recently. PTI MVG MVG SSK view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 17:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
35 minutes ago
- NDTV
Post Op Sindoor, Air Force, Navy To Place Mega Orders For BrahMos Missiles
New Delhi: Soon after they caused significant damage to Pakistani military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor, Indian forces are placing mega orders for the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Top defence sources told ANI that a high-level defence ministry meeting is expected to give clearance to the procurement of a large number of BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy warships, along with ground and air-launched versions of these weapons for the Indian Air Force soon. The missiles were used in a big way to hit Pakistani air bases and Army cantonments all along its length and breadth during the four-day conflict. The Navy would be using the missiles for equipping its Veer-class warships while the Indian Air Force would be using them to equip its Russian-origin Su-30 MKI fighter jet fleet, the sources said. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the performance of the indigenous weapon systems in the conflict, saying, "During Operation Sindoor, the world saw the capabilities of our indigenous weapons. Our Air Defence Systems, missiles, and drones have proved the strength of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', especially the Brahmos missiles." In the first phase of the conflict, when India launched attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, including the terror headquarters of Jaish e Mohammed and Lashkar e Toiba in Pakistani Punjab province, the BrahMos missile was the main weapon of choice for the Indian Air Force, which hit targets with great precision. The BrahMos caused further damage to Pakistani air bases, and hence the Pakistan Army tried to retaliate, protecting the terrorists and their infrastructure.
