New Delhi [India], July 29 : Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the central government over its handling of Operation Sindoor and its policy on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Masood made a jibe about the government, suggesting that external pressure from "Abba" forced the government to withdraw and also questioned why the government didn't take advantage of the situation to capture PoK.
He said, "When PoK was being captured, you asked them to come back. Abba's order came from America, Come back, son. Come on, I will not trade with you, and I won't give you work. You go back from here."
This comes amid US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade negotiations, after New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday denied claims of a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 17, dismissing speculation about potential diplomatic efforts while addressing the Lok Sabha during the discussion on Operation Sindoor.
He also rejected reports suggesting any connection between trade talks and India's military response, emphasising that India's actions were driven by counter-terrorism efforts.
He described India's response as a combination of restraint, resolve, and international outreach, setting a new normal in India's counter-terror doctrine.
Masood criticised the government, saying, "What was there in yesterday's debate? First, it was about the Defence Minister... He said that we did not go there to take anyone's land. So did we go for a walk?. You used to say that we would capture the PoK," he said.
Masood also questioned the effectiveness of Operation Mahadev, asking how the terrorists were eliminated within fifteen minutes, suggesting that if the government had acted with similar speed, it could have taken control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Masood said, "Where did the terrorists of Pahalgam go? When Gaurav Gogoi was asking questions in the Parliament, they did not even know who the mastermind was. Within fifteen minutes, Baijayant Panda made the announcement that the mastermind was killed in an encounter. If you were so fast, you could have waved our flag in the PoK."
BJP MP Baijayant Panda, during the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament on Monday, told the House that it appears that at least one terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack has been neutralised in an ongoing anti-terror operation, Mahadev, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Further criticising the government's approach, Imran Masood accused the Centre of prioritising business interests and normalising ties with Pakistan over national security.
"You want business. You have to play cricket because cricket will give you business. Shame on you," he said.
On Monday, three terrorists were killed in Operation Mahadev in an intense firefight with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda told the House that it appears that at least one terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack has been neutralised in an ongoing anti-terror operation, Mahadev, in Jammu and Kashmir.
MP Panda said, "As we were debating this issue today, some of us must have seen in the news that an Operation Mahadev is being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir targeted at terrorists and it appears that at least one of those eliminated today was involved in the Pahalgam attack."
The anti-terror Operation Mahadev took place in the general area of Lidwas, Chinar Corps of Indian Army said.
"OP MAHADEV - Contact established in General Area Lidwas. Operation in progress" the Chinar Corp said in a previous post on X.