Opposition loves anti-national forces, not Bharat, says Rekha Gupta in Assembly
The Chief Minister made the remarks while speaking in the Delhi Assembly during a debate on Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev.
She said Operation Sindoor was a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack in which some women lost their loved ones, asserting that Prime Minister Modi played a huge role in protecting the dignity of 'our sisters'. Hitting out at the Congress-led INDIA bloc, the chief minister said, 'These people (Opposition) do not love Bharat, but they love anti-national forces because they see their own reflection in them.'
'The opposition parties came together to form INDIA bloc. The name is 'INDIA' but if you listen to them, it feels like they are spokespersons for Pakistan... Even in the Lok Sabha, many people raised questions on Operation Sindoor. They do not trust their own army, their own prime minister but they trust foreign countries,' she said. The Chief Minister also attacked the Congress over the issue of Partition.
'In 1947, your party (Congress) was in power. You took credit for India's Independence but not for Partition. Why didn't you take responsibility of 1962 Indo-China war?' the chief minister said.
Earlier, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha was marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly on Monday after he refused to apologise for making objectionable remarks during a discussion on Operation Sindoor.
Participating in the discussion on the motion to thank the prime minister, home minister and the armed forces for Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the two operations represent the new normal in response to terror attacks.
'After terrorist attacks, dossiers are not sent any longer; instead, the army is given a clear order to eliminate the enemy,' he said. Sood said those questioning the two operations should be tried under sedition charges. In his speech, Jha attacked the Centre for accepting the 'ceasefire' during India-Pakistan military conflict and used words that the Speaker directed to be expunged from the records.
Speaker Vijender Gupta also asked Jha to tender an apology to the House. However, as Jha remained defiant, he was marshalled out in the direction of the Speaker. Jha hit out at the BJP, saying the decision of ceasefire was made by US President Trump and criticised the central government for accepting it.
'Operation Sindoor was an opportunity to teach a lesson to the enemy and take back the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,' the AAP MLA from Burari said.
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were massacred.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sukhoi-30-launched Brahmos was the primary offensive weapon in Op Sindoor: DRDO chief
Stating that Brahmos missile launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI was the primary offensive weapon used during Operation Sindoor, chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Samir V Kamat said on Saturday that the development of a smaller version of the supersonic cruise missile, Brahmos-NG, will soon begin. He said this variant can be fitted on other aircraft because of its reduced size. Kamat was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 14th convocation ceremony of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune on Saturday. Speaking about Operation Sindoor during a press briefing, Kamat said, 'When it comes to offensive weapons, Brahmos was the primary weapon that we used, mainly the air-launched variant which was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI platform. When it comes to defence weapons systems, Akash missile, the D4 anti-drone system and the MRSAM were used. All the sensors were networked using the AI-based Akashteer (indigenous automated air defence control and reporting system) which helped in identifying the threats coming towards us and deploying the right kind of weapon to neutralise them.' When asked about the development of a smaller version of the supersonic cruise missile Brahmos, Kamat said, 'Right now it is in the planning stages. We are looking at Brahmos NG which is a smaller version of Brahmos which can then be fitted on all our other aircraft. Today, Brahmos can be fitted only on the Sukhoi-30 MKI platform. But if we can make it smaller, it can be fitted on all our platforms. We are planning to start its development soon.' Brahmos is an extremely versatile stand-off range 'fire-and-forget' type supersonic cruise missile that has proved its capabilities in land-based, ship-based, air launched and submarine-based versions. The Brahmos Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) is the heaviest missile to arm India's frontline fighter jet Sukhoi-30 MKI. Speaking about the indigenous light tank Zorawar, Kamat said, 'It is at a more advanced stage. We have finished the development trials and we will offer it for user trials starting September.' Answering a question on defence exports, 'Last year, we had defence exports worth nearly Rs 23,000 crore. Based on the interest we are getting now because of the success of our systems in Operation Sindoor, I expect these exports to double in the next two to three years. We should achieve Rs 50,000 crore of exports by 2028-29 which is also the target set to us by the Defence Minister. There is a lot of interest in the Pinaka rocket system, ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), Brahmos and Akash. I am sure that in the years to come, the exports of these systems will increase.' When asked about the countries that have shown interest, Kamat said: 'I will not go into specifics. But South East Asia, Middle East and Africa are the regions.' Speaking about the development of Kaveri engine by the DRDO, 'When the development of the Kaveri engine was started, it was to be used in the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft.) The thrust required for LCA is about 84 kilonewtons. While the development was successful, the thrust that we could achieve based on our design was about 72 kilonewtons. So, Kaveri could not be fitted on LCA. But we are now modifying Kaveri. After removing its afterburner, we are terming it as Kaveri Derivative which is expected to provide a thrust of 49 kilonewton. It will be used in unmanned combat aerial vehicle programmes. Currently, the high altitude testing of this derivative engine is on and it will be tested on the flying testbed. And then it will be certified.' Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11 minutes ago
- First Post
Operation Sindoor was a declaration of India's self-reliance in defence, exports to double in three years: DRDO chief
Operation Sindoor showcased India's self-reliance and tech strength, said DRDO chief Samir Kamat. It used indigenous systems like Akash missiles and BrahMos. Defence exports may double in next 2-3 years, he said. read more Operation Sindoor was a 'declaration' of India's ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir Kamat said on Saturday. Speaking at the 14th convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) here, Kamat said the highly coordinated, multi-dimensional operation along the western borders highlighted not just the courage of the soldiers, but also the technological backbone that supported them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After Operation Sindoor's success, he expects India's defence exports to double in the next two to three years, he said. 'Operation Sindoor was more than a mission. It was a declaration of India's ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength. It was a statement to the world that India has the capability to protect its borders through homegrown technology,' the DRDO chief said. From sensors, unmanned platforms and secure communications to AI-based decision support systems and precision weapons, indigenous platforms played a key role in the operation, he said. The systems deployed for the operation included Akash surface-to-air missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the D4 anti-drone system, the AWNC airborne early warning and control system and the Akashteer system, all developed by India's defence R&D ecosystem. Institutions such as the DIAT played a crucial role in these developments, Kamat noted. The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor against terrorist targets in Pakistan on May 7, following the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, in which 26 people were killed. He further said it is the next generation's job to keep this momentum going and make India a technology leader in defence technologies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call that by 2047, India should become both a developed nation and a technology leader, he said. 'We are now entering an era where the definition of warfare is rapidly expanding. Battles are no longer confined to borders or front lines. They are fought across domains — land, air, sea, space, cyberspace, and even the electromagnetic spectrum. What does this mean for the graduating students of DIAT? It means you are no longer students of a conventional academic discipline. You are now part of India's defence capability architecture,' Kamat said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Their knowledge in quantum technologies, cybersecurity, robotics, materials engineering, missile systems, missile propulsion, and artificial intelligence has direct implications for national defence, he told the graduating DIAT students. 'You are not generalists. You are specialists trained at the intersection of science and defence technologies. Few institutions globally possess such clarity of purpose, and fewer still match the urgency and national significance of your work. As the world becomes more geopolitically unstable and as technology rapidly transforms the nature of both threats and opportunities, the burden and privilege of responsibility will fall on you,' he said. Speaking to reporters later, Kamat said among offensive weapons, BrahMos, used from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, was the primary weapon during Operation Sindoor. 'When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akash system, the D4 anti-drone system, and the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) were used. All the sensors we deployed were networked with Akashteer, an AI-based system, which helped identify threats and then deploy the right kind of weapon to neutralise them,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Radars used by the Indian armed forces performed exceedingly well, Kamat noted. Given the current geopolitical situation, it is absolutely essential to have our own capabilities, and only then the country can take sovereign decisions, said the DRDO chief. 'It is essential that in all critical weapon systems and technologies, we should have indigenous capabilities,' he said. Asked about the increase in defence exports post Operation Sindoor, Kamat said last year India achieved about Rs 23,000 crore in defence exports. 'Post the success of Operation Sindoor, I expect these exports to double in the next two to three years. We should achieve Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, which is the target set for us by the Defence Minister. There is a lot of interest in Pinaka, ATAGS, BrahMos, and Akash. I am sure that in the coming years, defence exports will increase manifold,' he said. Countries from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa are importing arms from India, Kamat said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), he said it is a smaller version of BrahMos that can be fitted on multiple platforms. 'Currently, BrahMos can be fitted only on the Sukhoi platform, but if we make it smaller, it can fit on other platforms as well. We are planning to start the development of BrahMos-NG soon,' he said. During the convocation ceremony, degrees were awarded to 298 students including 206 MTech students, 68 MSc and 24 PhD students from various disciplines. A total of 18 gold medals were awarded to students.
The Hindu
11 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Chhattisgarh government to launch Gaudham Yojana for stray cattle protection
The Chhattisgarh government will soon launch a new cattle protection scheme, the Gaudham Yojana, with a 'special focus on curbing illegal trafficking and ensuring safety of stray cattle'. It will shelter cows seized by police during anti-smuggling operations, a government statement said. 'The Livestock Development Department has designed this scheme keeping in mind the safety of cattle seized during illegal transportation or smuggling, as well as stray cattle. The State already has a ban on illegal trafficking and transportation of animals. Large numbers of cattle are seized by police during anti-smuggling operations along inter-State borders. The scheme is being launched to ensure a safe shelter for such cattle. Each Gaudham will be able to house a maximum of 200 cattle, depending on capacity,' the release said. Over the past year, the Chhattisgarh High Court has on more than one occasion expressed concern over stray cattle on roads and highways, noting the risks posed to both animals and humans. The new scheme includes a fixed monthly honorarium of ₹10,916 for cowherds and ₹13,126 for cattle attendants. Additionally, a fixed daily allowance will be provided for fodder. Outstanding Gaudhams will receive daily per-animal payments — ₹10 in the first year, ₹20 in the second, ₹30 in the third, and ₹35 in the fourth year. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the Gaudham Yojana would ensure livestock safety while providing a regular source of income to cowherds and cattle attendants. The scheme effectively replaces the now-defunct Gauthan Yojana, launched by the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government three years ago, under which honorariums were decided by local committees operating the Gauthans. A government official said the Gauthan Yojana had no dedicated budget, with funds sourced from other schemes such as the District Mineral Fund and MGNREGA. After the BJP government came to power, no budget provision was made due to the absence of a detailed plan. The new scheme has dropped certain provisions of the Gauthan Yojana, such as procuring cow dung for organic fertiliser. 'There will be no dung procurement in Gaudhams. Cowherds will utilise the dung themselves. Only stray and abandoned cattle will be kept in Gaudhams, where they will be scientifically conserved and protected. Priority will be given to cowsheds for managing Gaudhams,' the release added. The Gaudham Yojana will also make use of existing infrastructure created under the Gauthan Yojana. 'The Gaudhams will be established only on government land with secure fencing, cattle sheds, adequate water supply, and electricity. In Gauthans where infrastructure already exists, adjoining pastureland will be allotted for green fodder cultivation. If a registered cowshed committee in the vicinity declines to operate a Gaudham, other voluntary organisations, NGOs, trusts, farmer producer companies, or cooperative societies will be eligible to apply for its operation,' the release said. The scheme will be implemented based on proposals from district administrations and will be distinct from registered cowsheds. 'In the first phase, Gaudhams will be established in rural areas located along major national highways in Chhattisgarh. The district-level committee will study all applications comparatively and forward the name of the selected organisation to the Chhattisgarh State Cow Service Commission. After approval, an agreement will be signed between the Commission and the organisation, following which the organisation will take over Gaudham operations,' the release noted.
