'We Stand United': Political Parties Hail Operation Sindoor in All-Party Meet

BJP calls for an all-party meet after Operation Sindoor, political leaders speak.

(Photo: PTI)

A day after Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, the government convened an all-party meeting to brief political leaders on the strike and the situation that prevails.

The meeting, chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw key attendees including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sandip Bandyopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress and DMK's T R Baalu and other leaders from across party lines.

Following the closed-door briefing, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the media that the government has updated all parties on the situation post Operation Sindoor. "All political leaders gave their suggestions. Everyone has hailed and congratulated the armed forces."

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with TMCs Sudip Bandyopadhyay leaves after attending an all-party meeting over Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi, Thursday, May 8, 2025.

(Photo: PTI)

All leaders are speaking on the same united line as, "Everyone realises that this is no time for playing politics," he said. He then quoted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying, "We don't indulge in politics to form the government, but to form the country." Rijiju added that the tone of the meeting was united, with no conflict among parties.

Opposition Parties Extend Unequivocal Support

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was the first to speak to the media. He said that while the government shared key operational details, those, however, cannot be conveyed in the interest of national security. "We were informed that some of the details regarding the operation are confidential, so we cannot give them out now," he said.

He further reaffirmed the opposition's support, saying: "In this time of difficulty, we assured the ruling government that every party stands by them in the nation's interest and to proceed with the work they are carrying out."

Kharge, however, pointedly noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence. "Mr Narendra Modi has not been present for this or the last meeting, maybe because he thinks he is above Parliament. But now is not the time to criticise him," he said.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, DMKs TR Baalu and other leaders addresses the media after attending an all-party meeting over Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi, Thursday, May 8, 2025.

(Photo: PTI)

The Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, while agreeing with the Party President, said, “We gave full support, and what Kharge ji said is right, there are certain things that shouldn't be discussed. Everyone simply gave their support.”

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, while lauding the strike, urged the government to take the fight to the diplomatic front. "I have paid my respect to the Indian armed forces and the government for carrying out Operation Sindoor," he said.

Owaisi called for an international campaign to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation. "The UN Security Council should designate TRF, and the United States should declare it a Foreign Terrorist Organisation," he said, pointing to a February 2025 speech by Hafiz Abdul Rauf, son of Hafiz Saeed, in PoK, where he vowed to carry out a year-long jihad.

"Under the pretext of jihad, they want to spread terrorism in India and kill Indians.”

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi

On the domestic front, he urged the government to extend support and adopt Kashmiris who bore the burden of cross-border shelling. "Those who have lost their lives in Poonch should be declared terrorist victims, and the government should compensate and provide houses for them," he said. 

"The biggest takeaways for me from Operation Sindoor are that Bhawalpur and Muridke- two known terrorist sites were destroyed." Responding to international reports claiming an Indian Rafale fighter was downed in Bathinda, he said, "Though we are unsure whether this claim is true or not, the Indian Air Force should still deny it, as it shouldn't damage the morale of our armed forces."

BJD MP Sasmit Patra, speaking for party chief Naveen Patnaik, expressed full backing for the operation. “The BJD wholeheartedly commends the extraordinary courage, clinical precision and gallant professionalism of our armed forces in carrying out Operation Sindoor,” he said.

“We reiterate our firm, steadfast, and resolute support to our armed forces in taking whatever steps are deemed necessary to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation and protect Indian lives from terrorism.”

This meeting comes amid escalating tensions along the border as Pakistani shelling killed 13 people, including an Indian Army officer, and injured over 50 on Wednesday, the same day the strike was carried out.