‘Why now?’ Congress leaders question timing of IAF chief’s Operation Sindoor revelations; allege bid to divert from ‘vote theft’ row | India News

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.Also Read | ‘There is a limit to lying’: Rijiju slams Rahul Gandhi over Operation Sindoor remarks; cites IAF chief’s rebuttal “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.This came after Air Chief Marshal Singh’s revelation that the IAF downed 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.”