The Congress party, long criticised for placing narrow political interests above national priorities, has once again found itself at the centre of controversy for echoing narratives that closely resemble those pushed by Pakistan.

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan made remarks that sparked strong reactions, as he alleged that Indian fighter aircraft were shot down during “Operation Sindoor” and that India suffered a setback on the very first day of the operation.

Chavan went as far as claiming that India lost decisively during the initial phase of the conflict. He asserted, “On the first day, we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” speaking with a confidence that many critics likened to that of an official spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

These statements stand in sharp contrast to findings highlighted in a report by a United States Commission last month. The report shed light on a coordinated propaganda effort aimed at portraying India as having lost fighter jets. It underlined how China had launched a disinformation campaign to damage the credibility and global sales of French Rafale aircraft, while promoting its own J-35 fighter jets. According to the report, artificial intelligence tools were used to create fake images that allegedly showed wreckage of downed Rafale jets, even though no such losses had occurred.

Pakistan, which depends heavily on Chinese military equipment, has consistently pushed these false claims ever since India carried out decisive actions to dismantle terror infrastructure. Despite this, the Indian National Congress has appeared eager to repeat and amplify the same misleading narrative, even when such claims could harm India’s image and interests on the global stage.

Chavan did not stop there. He also questioned the need for India to maintain a large standing army, raising doubts about the relevance of ground forces in modern warfare. He remarked, “Recently, we saw during Operation Sindoor, there was not even a one-kilometre movement of the military. Whatever happened over two or three days was only an aerial war and missile warfare. In the future, too, wars will be fought in the same way. In such a situation, do we really need to maintain an army of 12 lakh soldiers, or can we make they do some other work,” suggesting a drastic rethink of India’s defence structure.

In doing so, Chavan dragged the Indian armed forces into a political debate, a move that drew comparisons with Pakistan’s long-standing and widely criticised claims of deploying 700,000 troops in Kashmir. His comments reflected discomfort with the size and presence of India’s security forces, despite their role in safeguarding national sovereignty.

When asked to apologise for his remarks, Chavan remained defiant. He responded, “Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions,” refusing to acknowledge the outrage his words had generated.

The Congress party has often been accused of invoking the Constitution as a protective shield after making statements that are perceived as undermining national interests. Chavan himself had earlier questioned whether the government chose the name “Operation Sindoor” to gain what he described as “sentimental benefits” in May, adding yet another layer to the controversy surrounding his remarks.

Congress Backing Pakistan’s False Narratives During “Operation Sindoor”

Prithviraj Chavan is not the first Congress leader to be accused of aligning with Pakistan’s propaganda. During “Operation Sindoor,” several senior party figures made statements that critics argue strengthened the adversary’s narrative. Rahul Gandhi, for instance, was accused of misrepresenting comments made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to further Pakistan’s agenda.

Jaishankar had stated that Pakistan was informed about India’s actions shortly after they were carried out. Official timelines verified by the Press Information Bureau and India’s defence authorities confirmed that the operation had already been completed by the time the message reached Islamabad. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi accused the Union Minister of committing a criminal act, while Congress leader Pawan Khera went a step further and labelled it mukhbiri, or acting as an informant.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also entered the debate by questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi about how many Rafale fighter jets Pakistan had supposedly shot down. Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore echoed similar claims and argued that ministers in a parliamentary democracy were duty-bound to respond to national security concerns raised by the opposition.

Adding to the controversy, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, a Member of Parliament and President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, claimed that he possessed images of the tail section of a downed Rafale fighter jet. He further declared that the wreckage had been found at the Bhisiana Air Force Station. These remarks were made despite official clarifications that “all strikes were carried out without any loss of Indian assets, highlighting the efficiency of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems.”

From the very beginning of “Operation Sindoor,” the Congress party has been accused of siding with Islamabad by repeating and reinforcing its unfounded claims. Chavan’s recent comments are being seen as yet another troubling example of this pattern.

A Repeated Pattern of Echoing Pakistan’s Propaganda

India’s large-scale military action against Pakistan’s terror network has once again exposed what many describe as the Congress party’s tendency to accept and circulate narratives promoted by India’s hostile neighbour, often at the cost of trust in its own government and armed forces. This behaviour, critics argue, is not new. Over the years, Pakistan has repeatedly found unexpected support in the statements and positions taken by the grand old party.

In the past, the Congress and its former president Rahul Gandhi questioned the Pulwama terror attack and demanded proof of the Balakot airstrikes, demands that closely mirrored Pakistan’s own stance. Even on critical issues of cross-border terrorism, the party did not hesitate to play politics.

When Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Muhammad Masood Azhar Alvi, commonly known as Masood Azhar, was designated a global terrorist by the United Nations Sanctions Committee in 2019, the development was widely seen as a diplomatic success for India. Yet, Congress leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, used the moment to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They claimed the move was linked to Modi’s alleged “friendship” with Pakistan’s then Prime Minister and suggested it was timed to influence the general elections held that year.

Digvijaya Singh, already known for controversial remarks perceived as pro-Pakistan and anti-Hindu, went further by alleging that the Bajrang Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party were funded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. He also compared Hindus to Pakistani spies and claimed that non-Muslims were more likely to work for the ISI than Muslims.

Later, Singh stated that several television channels had broadcast “totally wrong” reports about his comments. These events took place in 2019, after which legal cases were filed against him.

The Congress party has even been accused of borrowing tactics commonly used by Pakistan, such as staging protests outside Indian embassies under the guise of dissent. In 2019, the Indian Overseas Congress announced plans to hold demonstrations outside Indian embassies around the world, protesting the Modi government’s handling of the economy and what it described as “India’s deteriorating condition.”

The above incidents offer a glimpse into the political approach and mindset of the Congress party. Several of its leaders, including the now-suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar, have repeatedly expressed views seen as sympathetic towards Pakistan. Historically, the party has often adopted a softer stance towards the neighbouring country and has been criticised for failing to take firm action even after major terror attacks, including the devastating 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The recent remarks continue this long-standing pattern.

When public backlash becomes too intense, Congress frequently distances itself from such statements, claiming they were made in a “personal capacity.” However, these very remarks are quickly picked up by Pakistan and amplified on international platforms to target India. In the past, Pakistan has used comments made by Rahul Gandhi to strengthen its arguments at the United Nations.

Pakistani media regularly highlights such statements to project falsehoods as facts. Despite being aware of the consequences, the Congress party continues to reinforce narratives pushed by the Islamic Republic during sensitive and critical moments. What many observers see as political hostility towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they argue, has gradually transformed into actions that appear dismissive of India itself for not returning the party to power.