CDS Interview Storm: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Alleges Government Misleading Nation, Seeks Special Session Of Parliament

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the government of misleading the nation on the India-Pakistan conflict and demanded holding a special session of Parliament immediately, following Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan’s acknowledgement of aircraft loss in the hostilities.

Gen Chauhan, however, dismissed as ‘absolutely incorrect’ Islamabad’s claim of downing six Indian jets.

In a post on X, Kharge said his party demands a comprehensive review of India’s defence preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the survey done by the Kargil Review Committee.

“In the wake of the remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in Singapore in an interview, there are some very important questions that need to be asked. These can only be done if a special session of the Parliament is immediately convened,” he said.

“The Modi Government has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing.”

The Congress chief said the Indian Air Force pilots risked their lives fighting the enemy, and ‘suffered some losses but our pilots were safe’.

He was referring to Gen Chauhan’s interview in which the CDS said that ‘we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range’.

The Congress president said his party salutes their resolute courage and bravery. However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour, he asserted.

“The Congress party demands a Comprehensive Review of our Defence Preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the Kargil Review Committee,” he said.

Citing Donald Trump’s statements, Kharge said the US president has again repeated his claim about ‘brokering a ceasefire’.

“This is a direct affront to the Shimla Agreement. Instead of clarifying Mr Trump’s repeated assertions, and the affidavit filed by the US Secretary of Commerce in the United States Court of International Trade, PM Modi is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of our Armed Forces, hiding behind their bravery and dodging the contours of the agreed ceasefire, which the Foreign Secretary announced on May 10, after Trump’s tweet,” Kharge noted in his post.