Jaya Bachchan questions naming of ’Operation Sindoor’

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on Wednesday questioned why India's retaliatory action following the Pahalgam attack was named "Operation Sindoor" when women were widowed and "lost their sindoor". 

During a Rajya Sabha debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the actress and politician objected to interruptions from other MPs. The chair advised the actor-turned-politician, who is known for her fiery temper, to ignore others.

Bachhan responded that she has “sharp ears” and was seen telling Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was sitting next to her, "don't control me".  Bachchan offered condolences to the families of those killed in the Pahalgam attack.

"It feels strange because whatever happened looks like fiction, people came, killed so many, nothing happened. It's really unreal," she said. "I talk from my heart... You have appointed big writers, who give fancy names... Why did you name it Sindoor? Sindoor to ujad gaya logo ka (they lost their sindoor)... Those who were killed, their wives were left behind."

"The tourists who went there, why did they go there? After the abolition of Article 370, they were chest-thumping that terrorism will be finished... what happened? The tourists went there believing that," she explained. 

"You have destroyed the faith and trust of people you promised. Those families will never forgive you. You do not have the ability to apologise to those families," she stated. "Humility in power is very important."

"The defence minister said we are self-reliant, we are manufacturing this and that, what is the point when you were not even able to save 25-26 people... Bombs will not help, basic humanity is required," she explained.

"No dispute can be silenced by violence alone. I am sorry to say one department where you are very poor is humility," she said. She also quoted Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien, saying, "Derek said a good thing -- the weaker the argument, the more aggressive the body language."

"Be humble, be kind, be protective towards people who have given you this position and authority with hope that you will protect them... Protect them, please say sorry," she said.