Agartala, May 15:
A day after the ruling BJP organized a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ celebrating the armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what it claimed as a “victory” in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, senior Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman launched a scathing attack on the Centre, raising serious questions about the “sudden halt” of the operation.
Speaking at a press conference held at Congress Bhavan in Agartala on Thursday, Roy Barman, accompanied by Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha, alleged that despite India gaining the upper hand in the operation, the Modi government inexplicably agreed to a ceasefire. He questioned whether US President Donald Trump played a role in influencing India’s decision.
“What is going on behind the scenes? Why is Trump dictating India’s fighter jet purchases, oil import sources, tariffs, and even decisions on war and peace?” Roy Barman asked.
“Modi did not even mention Trump or any US official in his ceasefire address to the nation. He didn’t deny Trump’s claims either. Is this not an attack on India’s sovereignty and self-respect?”
Drawing comparisons to the transparency during the Kargil War, Roy Barman criticized the Modi government for withholding information on Indian losses during Operation Sindoor.
He cited Western media reports suggesting that at least three Indian fighter jets were destroyed but claimed the Indian government has remained silent.
He accused the Modi government of manipulating mainstream media to spread propaganda and divert public attention for electoral gains. “Instead of informing the people, the BJP is using Tiranga Yatras to campaign for votes,” he added.
Targeting BJP’s IT cell, the Congress leader condemned alleged online attacks on the wife of a deceased Navy official who contradicted the ruling party’s narrative of selective targeting of Hindus in Pahalgam.
“She highlighted how Kashmiri Muslims helped them during the attack and rightly said terrorists have no religion. But BJP IT cell launched a character assassination campaign against her,” he claimed.
He also condemned reported derogatory remarks made against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi by Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, accusing the BJP of communalizing national security issues.
“Modi is a weak and coward Prime Minister,” said Roy Barman, alleging that anger over the ceasefire was internally directed at Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
“The BJP has failed to turn the terrorist attacks into communal propaganda, and the people have now seen their true face,” he added.
Roy Barman also raised several pointed questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging a series of failures and misleading claims that have come to light during the recent Pahalgam terror attacks, the subsequent all-party meeting, and the course of Operation Sindoor.
He claimed that the government’s handling of these incidents exposed glaring weaknesses in national security strategy, transparency, and diplomacy.
Roy Barman accused the Prime Minister of misleading the nation through selective narratives, suppressing critical information, and failing to take a firm stand on foreign interference, thereby compromising India’s sovereignty and dignity on multiple fronts.
The Congress MLA concluded by accusing the BJP of exploiting national security for political mileage while failing to uphold India’s dignity on the global stage.
