Congress: What is point of BJP’s vermilion distribution plan when Pahalgam attackers still roaming free?

New Delhi: The Congress accused the PM Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre of stealing the credit of the country’s defence forces, who have inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

The Opposition party called the Centre’s work a ‘political and diplomatic failure’

Addressing a press conference at the AICC office here on Thursday, party spokesperson Dr Ragini Nayak said that vermilion is a symbol of love, faith, honour and good fortune, but the PM Modi government is misusing it for its own political gains. She was referring to Operation Sindoor.

Distribution of Sindoor

Referring to the PM Modi government’s plan to start door-to-door ‘sindoor’ distribution from June 9, which coincides with the date of Narendra Modi taking oath as prime minister for a third term, she asked, "What is the purpose of such plan distributing vermilion by strangers?"

“Don’t the self-proclaimed champions of Hinduism know that vermilion is used by devout Hindu married women as a symbol of respect and well-being for her husband and she receives it from the house of in-laws or as a blessing of good fortune from Shakti Peeth or temple?” she asked.

She also asked with what face the BJP-RSS will distribute vermilion among women, as the terrorists, responsible for destroying the lives of so many women by killing their husbands, are still roaming free and have yet to be brought to justice.

Dr Nayak asked the women to question the BJP and Sangh workers when they bring vermilion to their homes: “Who is responsible for the killing of husbands of women in Pahalgam? Who is responsible for giving advance information about the attack to Pakistan? Why was the sanctity of Operation Sindoor compromised under the pressure of US President Donald Trump?”

Congress condemns comments by MP minister

Dr Nayak also questioned PM Modi’s photo being displayed on train tickets, hoardings and petrol pumps in the name of ‘Operation Sindoor’. She pointed out that there were no images of Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Colonel Sophia Qureshi or the Army Chief on these hoardings.

The Congress spokesperson also strongly condemned the derogatory comments made by BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra and Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah about Col. Sophia Qureshi and the wives of martyrs in the Pahalgam terror attack.

She said, until such people are expelled from the party, the BJP has no moral right to distribute vermilion. She questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence over these statements. “When the BJP wants to collect votes in the name of our defence forces, they are worshipped, but when they are not needed, they are insulted,” she remarked.