Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has stirred controversy after questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the number of Rafale fighter jets allegedly downed by Pakistan during India's recent Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the 'Jai Hind' rally, Reddy demanded that the Prime Minister explain to the nation how many Rafale jets were shot down by Pakistan’s forces, triggering sharp political backlash.

He also questioned why Modi didn’t call an all-party meeting before ending the conflict, especially when he had convened one before launching the operation. Reddy further claimed that despite public sentiment, the Modi government failed to secure Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or support Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan.

Referring to the role of Telangana in national defence, Reddy pointed out that warplanes made in the state had served the nation, yet “the Rafales bought by Modi were shot down,” according to him. He demanded transparency and accountability for defence procurements, alleging that massive contracts were handed over to Modi's associates.

The CM also said senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Meenakshi Natarajan, had pledged bipartisan support during the conflict with Pakistan, in the interest of national security. However, Reddy questioned why the war ended so abruptly, citing former US President Donald Trump's claim that he pressured India to back down.

In a broader critique of national security policies, Reddy accused the Modi government of inaction against China, alleging that the neighbouring country had occupied 4,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. He contrasted this with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assertiveness in foreign policy, recalling how she stood firm against both China in 1967 and the US in 1971, ultimately leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

The BJP's Telangana unit responded fiercely, accusing Reddy of echoing Pakistan’s views on sensitive defence matters. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the party claimed Reddy had even referred to Pakistan as “Mana Pakistan” (Our Pakistan), which it said reflects a pro-Pakistan stance.

The BJP accused the Congress party of consistently undermining the armed forces and national interest—citing opposition to the Balakot airstrikes, Agnipath scheme, and surgical strikes. “Stick to Miss World photo ops, Revanth. National security isn’t your ramp,” the party said, alleging that the Congress only sulks when India triumphs.