‘Shabash To Whoever Thought’: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Praises Operation Sindoor's Name

Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has extended strong support to the Indian government and armed forces following the high-intensity cross-border strikes codenamed Operation Sindoor. Tharoor praised the operation, its name, and its symbolic image, reflecting the nation's resolve against terrorism.

Responding to a post on X that speculated on a possible acronym for the operation, Tharoor wrote, “Clever, esp given the government’s penchant for creative acronyms! But jokes apart, #OperationSindoor is a brilliant name. It evokes the image, seared into our national consciousness, of the newly-widowed bride, kneeling and weeping by the side of her assassinated husband of six days in Pahalgam – the entire reason why Operation #Sindoor was necessary. The fact that sindoor is blood red also sends a telling message. Shabash to whoever thought of it!”

The post he was responding to claimed, “From a senior journalist who does not wish to be identified: I could have sworn 'Sindoor' stands for Strategic Initiative for Neutralizing Destructive Opponents with Overwhelming Retaliation.”

The strikes, which commenced around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in a swift, 25-minute blitz. According to Indian military officials, the strikes were the most expansive cross-border operation since Balakot, involving air, naval, and ground-based assets.

According to an official government statement released around 2 AM, the strikes were described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," specifically targeting terror hubs responsible for attacks on Indian soil. The operation aimed at nine key locations, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, which are known strongholds of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist groups, respectively. Notably, all Indian Air Force pilots involved in the mission returned safely.

List of Sites Targeted in Operation Sindoor:

  • Bahawalpur: Located about 100 km from the International Boundary, it serves as the headquarters for JeM.
  • Muridke: Situated 30 km from the border opposite Samba, it is an LeT camp.
  • Gulpur: Positioned 35 km from the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch-Rajouri sector.
  • Sawai: An LeT camp 30 km inside PoK, in the Tangdhar Sector.
  • Bilal Camp: A JeM launchpad.
  • LeT Kotli camp: Located 15 km from the LoC opposite Rajouri.
  • Barnala camp: Situated 10 km from the LoC opposite Rajouri.
  • Sarjal camp: A JeM camp about 8 km from the International Boundary opposite Samba-Kathua.
  • Mehmoona camp: A Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) training camp, located 15 km from the International Boundary near Sialkot.

The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead. The government emphasized that the operation was executed with precision under the cover of darkness, with a clear focus on non-escalation to prevent further conflict.

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