The Indian National Congress on Thursday announced a series of nationwide events titled ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’, to be held from May 20 to 30 in 15 key locations across India. These meetings aim to honour the valour of the Indian Armed Forces while also raising serious questions on national security lapses and the government’s silence over the reported involvement of the United States in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan.

The initiative was announced by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal, who posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

“Indian National Congress will hold ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ across India to salute the supreme valour and success of our Armed Forces. We must also raise serious concerns about recent security lapses, the handling of national security, and the silence around the US involvement in our security matters.”

These public meetings will involve Army veterans, Congress leaders, and the general public, and will be held in Delhi, Barmer, Shimla, Haldwani, Patna, Jabalpur, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Pathankot.

‘Operation Sindoor’ and Government Accountability

The announcement follows closely after the Congress party accused the BJP of politicising the recent military action, Operation Sindoor, and attempting to turn it into a branding exercise for electoral gains. Congress leaders argue that while the bravery belongs to the armed forces, the government is using their sacrifice for political mileage.

At a joint press conference held on Wednesday, senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera criticised the “PR-centric” approach of the BJP, calling for professionalism and institutional accountability in matters of national security.

CWC Resolution Slams Pahalgam Intelligence Failure

A Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution passed during the same meeting expressed deep concern over the attack in Pahalgam, terming it an apparent intelligence failure.

“Despite known threats and rising tensions in the region, terrorists succeeded in executing a major attack, claiming precious lives,” the resolution stated.
“No accountability has been fixed yet, which is deeply troubling. The government must clarify why adequate preventive measures weren’t in place.”

The CWC also demanded the immediate apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for the attack.

Questions Over Ceasefire and US Involvement

The Congress further raised eyebrows over the abrupt cessation of India’s retaliatory military action against Pakistan, noting that the lack of official explanation has led to speculation nationwide. The issue was compounded, according to the party, by former US President Donald Trump’s claims of having mediated the ceasefire by allegedly using trade threats to pressure India.

“This revelation, if true, raises serious questions about national sovereignty and strategic autonomy,” the CWC said.
“The government’s refusal to comment on or deny these claims is inexplicable and unacceptable.”

“Security Cannot Be Managed by Optics Alone”

In closing, the CWC warned that national security must not be reduced to TV-friendly optics and urged the government to act with professional rigour and responsibility.

“Security demands vigilance, not visuals. It requires institutional readiness and transparency, not grandstanding,” said Ramesh.

The upcoming ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ are expected to amplify these concerns and mobilize public support for greater accountability in national security affairs.

A political standoff unfolded on Thursday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped by police outside the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, where he was scheduled to engage with students under the Congress party’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ initiative — a statewide public outreach program focusing on education rights and equity.

As the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha arrived at the gates of the hostel, his convoy was blocked from entering the premises by local authorities. The move sparked outrage among Congress supporters and leaders, who insisted that Gandhi’s interaction with students must proceed as planned.

Senior Bihar Congress leaders immediately confronted the security personnel at the venue, demanding access to the hostel and calling the action a deliberate attempt to stifle student voices and democratic engagement. The Ambedkar Hostel, known for housing students from marginalised communities, had been identified as a symbolic and significant location for Gandhi’s interaction.

The issue of venue permissions had already been a flashpoint in the lead-up to the event. On Wednesday night, the local administration denied permission for the interaction at Ambedkar Hostel but allowed an alternate venue — the Town Hall — only after the Congress strongly objected and alleged administrative bias.

However, Congress leaders remained firm in their stance. Earlier in the day, they declared that Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with students would happen at the original venue chosen by the party and not at the one imposed by the administration.

In a press conference held in Patna, senior Congress leader Abhay Dubey condemned the actions of the Darbhanga administration, alleging that it was acting under political pressure from the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance. “The administration is trying to suppress the voice of deprived and marginalised students. Hundreds of students from nearby districts like Madhubani and Samastipur are being stopped from entering Darbhanga,” said Dubey. “But the government must realise that Rahul Gandhi represents the voice of India’s backward and oppressed sections.”

Dubey also mocked the administration’s justification that the Ambedkar Hostel was not mentioned in the original permission request, calling it a convenient excuse to disrupt the event.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from across opposition parties and civil society, with many accusing the government of muzzling democratic expression and political outreach.

Despite the hurdles, Congress sources said Gandhi was determined to speak to the students, whether formally or informally, and reiterated that the party would not bow to pressure tactics aimed at silencing dissent or disrupting constitutional rights to public engagement.

India on Wednesday issued a strong rebuttal to China’s latest attempt to rename several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move “preposterous” and reaffirming that the northeastern state is an undeniable and inalienable part of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued the statement in response to China’s release of a new list of Chinese names for places within Arunachal Pradesh — a region that Beijing refers to as part of “South Tibet”, a claim that India has repeatedly and unequivocally rejected.

“We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, while addressing media queries.

“Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” Jaiswal asserted.

Background of the Dispute

This is not the first time China has attempted to rename geographical areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing has previously published similar lists under the guise of standardizing place names, an act widely seen by India and the global community as politically motivated and historically baseless.

China’s move comes amid continuing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and follows a series of infrastructural and strategic developments undertaken by both sides in the border areas. However, India maintains that its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is absolute and not subject to external dispute.

Diplomatic Reactions

India’s firm response is in line with its consistent diplomatic messaging over the years. Senior government officials and political leaders across party lines have long affirmed that no external party has any locus standi to rename Indian territory, and that such tactics are an affront to India’s territorial integrity.

In recent months, India has also increased infrastructure development and civilian outreach in the border state, sending a clear message that Arunachal Pradesh is not only integral to the Indian Union geographically but also emotionally and politically.

Global Perspective

While China’s assertions are part of its broader regional strategy, they have gained no international recognition, with most nations and global bodies acknowledging India’s administrative control and sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh.

As geopolitical tensions simmer in the region, experts suggest that India’s unwavering stance on Arunachal Pradesh is a signal of its strategic clarity and commitment to safeguarding national interests against expansionist narratives.

New Delhi – In a rare and strategic briefing on Wednesday, the Apex Leadership of the Indian Armed Forces – Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh – offered a direct and comprehensive perspective on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.

The high-level interaction, which included discussions with veterans and strategic think tanks, shed light on the Tri-Services synergy, cutting-edge coordination, and multi-domain warfare capabilities demonstrated during the mission.

“Insights on the Tri-Services synergy achieved through clearly stated strategic guidance and the successful execution of new-age multi-domain operations, with an exceptional degree of jointness and integration, were deliberated upon,” the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) stated in a release.

Operation Sindoor: A Decisive Military Response

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India’s strong military retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. The Indian Armed Forces carried out coordinated strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Following the strikes, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and drone incursions across the Line of Control (LoC) and border regions of Jammu and Kashmir. India swiftly responded with a second wave of precision strikes targeting radar installations, communication hubs, and airfields at 11 strategic Pakistani airbases.

Ceasefire Understanding Announced

After days of high-tension military escalation, a mutual understanding for cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was reached and announced on May 10, stabilizing the situation across the LoC and airspace corridors.

Despite Pakistan’s initial denials and provocation, India’s prompt and surgical response demonstrated a high degree of operational preparedness, joint force application, and technological dominance across land, sea, and air.

“The world has seen what India is capable of when provoked. Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to the resolve and strength of our forces under unified command,” said a senior military analyst.

India’s New Defence Doctrine in Action

Operation Sindoor is being widely seen as a model of India’s evolving defence doctrine, emphasizing pre-emptive capability, precision response, and integrated warfare strategy. The operation’s success also reflects India’s shift toward multi-theatre preparedness and real-time coordination across services.

Strategic experts note that this level of inter-service cooperation signals a transformative phase in Indian defence policy, directly influenced by the vision of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and empowered by government backing at the highest level.