'Why now?' Congress leaders question timing of IAF chief's Operation Sindoor revelations; allege bid to divert from 'vote theft' row

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday questioned the timing of Air Chief Marshal AP Singh ’s revelations about Pakistan’s losses during May’s Operation Sindoor , linking them to the ongoing “vote theft” controversy.

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“This is good news, but why say it now, when the issue of vote theft is in the spotlight?” Raj told ANI. “When Pakistan was weakened, the BJP should have fulfilled its promise to take PoK (Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir). Why wasn’t PoK taken?”

Congress MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, echoed the concern, alleging the announcement might be aimed at “shifting the narrative” and “diverting attention” from allegations against the Election Commission. “I don’t understand the timing. Is this meant to hide those allegations?” he asked.

On Saturday, Raj had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “betraying the country” by halting the operation without reclaiming PoK. “The Congress always salutes the valour of the armed forces, but why did this revelation come only after Rahul Gandhi exposed vote theft? By not taking PoK when Pakistan was weakened, Modi ji betrayed the nation,” the former BJP leader wrote on X.

IAF प्रमुख अमर प्रीत सिंह का खुलासा, ऑपरेशन सिंदूर में पाक के 5 लड़ाकू विमान और एक बड़े विमान किए ढेर।अच्छी खबर है और कांग्रेस पार्टी सेना के शौर्य पर हमेशा गर्व करती है लेकिन यह खुलासा राहुल गांधी जी द्वारा वोट की चोरी पकड़ने पर ही क्यों?
जब पाकिस्तान की हालत पस्त थी तो युद्ध…

— Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) August 9, 2025

This came after Air Chief Marshal Singh's revelation that the Indian Air Force shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor — the latter destroyed about 300 km away in what he called “the largest recorded surface-to-air kill in history.”