Congress accuses BJP politicising Op Sindoor after ad appears on railway e-ticket
A political storm has erupted over Indian Railways tickets featuring 'Operation Sindoor' and a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Congress accusing the BJP-led government of using the military operation for political gains ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.Piyush Babele, media advisor to senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, shared a photo of an IRCTC e-ticket on social media platform X.
advertisement'This is an example of how advertisement-obsessed the Modi government is. They are using 'Operation Sindoor' as an advertisement on railway tickets. They are selling even the military's valour like a product. This isn't patriotism — it's bargaining,' Babele wrote.
The ticket, booked for the Bhopal-Jhansi route on May 17 in the third AC coach of the Sampark Kranti Express, displays an image of PM Modi alongside a caption highlighting 'Operation Sindoor'.Babele further alleged that since India successfully executed Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the BJP has been attempting to use the military's achievements for electoral advantage.'While India has traditionally refrained from politicising the armed forces, BJP leaders first made irresponsible statements, and now this—railway tickets turned into promotional material featuring Modi's photo and statement,' he said. 'This is blatant use of the military for political benefit in the upcoming Bihar elections. Such practices must be immediately banned.'advertisementBahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Kunwar Danish Ali also took to social media to criticise the advertisement.'Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees war and martyrdom as opportunities. While innocent civilians bled and brave soldiers risked everything to counter Pakistan, a new poster was launched. No names or faces of the martyrs—just Modi's image and promotion. Is this not the height of self-obsession?' he wrote on X.
INDIAN RAILWAYS RESPONDS TO CONTROVERSYRailway Board official Dilip Kumar issued a statement following the controversy.'We are proud of our armed forces for successfully carrying out Operation Sindoor. The entire country is celebrating their bravery. As a tribute, Indian Railways decided to highlight this message on tickets and illuminate stations with the tricolour showcasing Operation Sindoor. It's a nationwide campaign to spread the message of the operation's success.'When questioned about the Congress party's objection, Kumar said, 'Operation Sindoor's success is a matter of immense national pride. We believe this story should reach every corner of India, and for that purpose, we are running a campaign.'Must Watch
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