Modi Issues Intense Challenge to Congress Regarding Kashmir Under Pakistan's Control
In a dramatic address to the Lok Sabha on July 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed Operation Sindoor, a significant counter-terrorism campaign, and the ongoing PoK issue. The speech came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22, 2025.
Operation Sindoor, a swift and large-scale operation targeting over 100 terrorists across multiple camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was executed within 22 minutes. Modi framed it as a "new normal" in India’s counter-terrorism policy, signaling a muscular stance aimed at deterrence and national pride restoration.
Politically, Modi used the address to counter criticism from the Congress party, particularly opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who questioned the transparency and intelligence behind the strikes. Modi accused Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative and undermining the armed forces’ success. He also blamed Congress for a legacy of "appeasement politics" that allowed terrorism and PoK’s occupation to grow, highlighting historical decisions under Congress governments, especially those of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Modi also dismissed external diplomatic pressures, notably from former US President Donald Trump, emphasizing India’s independent strategic determination. His government portrayed Operation Sindoor as reclaiming national pride and reinforcing that India would respond forcibly on its own terms to any terror attack or nuclear blackmail.
The political rivalry over Kashmir between the ruling party and the Congress remains intense. The government's response to the Opposition's questions about the ceasefire and India's strategy toward PoK will shape future discussions on the country's defense and foreign policy.
The ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, reached on May 10, has been a point of controversy. The delicate balancing act between national security and diplomacy is a challenge that the government continues to navigate.
In summary, the historical context centers on the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir and terrorism emanating from PoK. The political implications are a reassertion of India’s military resolve under Modi, a direct political attack on Congress for its historical decisions and stance on security, and a reaffirmation of India’s autonomous foreign and defense policy, rejecting both Pakistan’s and some global criticisms. This speech sought to consolidate nationalist support and frame the Modi government as decisively protecting India’s sovereignty against terrorism and foreign threats.
- The ongoing discussion about war-and-conflicts, particularly the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir and terrorism emanating from PoK, has become a focal point in the realms of policy-and-legislation and politics, with the Prime Minister using his speech to reassert India’s military resolve and portray Operation Sindoor as a reclaiming of national pride.
- The speech also included a significant political attack on the Congress party, with Modi blaming the opposition for a legacy of "appeasement politics" that allowed terrorism and PoK’s occupation to grow, and for echoing Pakistan’s narrative and undermining the armed forces’ success, a critique that is now part of the general-news cycle.
