Why Do You Keep Lying?’ – Kiren Rijiju Slams Rahul Gandhi After IAF Chief’s ‘Full Freedom’ Statement Sparks 5 Major Political Shockwaves
Rahul Gandhi had said in the Parliament that the hands of the Indian Air Force were “tied” by the government during Operation Sindoor
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, of ‘lowering his stature’ and ‘damaging “India’s high reputation” over his remarks regarding the Indian Air Force and Operation Sindoor in the Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi had said in the Parliament that the hands of the Indian Air Force were “tied” by the government during Operation Sindoor as they were told not to attack Pakistan’s air defence systems.
Refuting this claim, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh said on Saturday that the government had put no restrictions on them during Operation Sindoor and they had “full freedom” to plan and execute attacks during the operation.
Sharing a video of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the Parliament during th discussion over the operation and IAF chief’s rebuttal of it, Kiren Rijiju wrote on X, “I request Rahul Gandhi ji to maintain the decorum of India’s Parliament. Why do you keep lying all the time? I have witnessed many Leaders of Opposition who had maintained Parliamentary standards. You have not only lowered your stature but damaged India’s high reputation!”
During the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the monsoon session of the Parliament, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Air Force was told not to attack Pakistan’s air defence systems, which in a way means that their “hands were tied”.
“You went into Pakistan, you attacked Pakistan, and you told our pilots do not attack their air defence systems, meaning you told our pilots go and attack and face the air defence systems of Pakistan. Meaning, you tied their hands behind their backs,” Gandhi is heard saying in the video shared by Rijiju.
While addressing the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru on August 9, IAF chief Amar Preet Singh said that the government put no restrictions on them during the operation.
Talking about the reasons behind Operation Sindoor’s success, the IAF chief said that one of them was “political will”.
“There was very clear political will, very clear directions were given to us and there were no kind of restrictions which were put on us,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Singh said, “Many people have spoken somewhere unfortunately, every one is speaking about it…there were talks about was there any restriction, were you kept constraint. It there were any constraints, they were self made.”
“We, the forces, decided what will be our rules of engagement. We, the forces, decided what will be the escalation ladder that we want to ride on. We decided how we want to control th escalation. So I want to make it very clear, there were no, I repeat, no restrictions on us. Full freedom was given to us to plan and execute.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of repeatedly spreading misinformation, after the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, clarified that the IAF enjoys “full freedom” in operational matters. The political war of words erupted after Gandhi’s earlier remarks allegedly implied that the armed forces faced restrictions under the current government.
The controversy began when Rahul Gandhi, during a recent public interaction, suggested that the government was interfering in the armed forces’ autonomy, potentially undermining their operational effectiveness. His comments drew immediate criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with several leaders calling them “irresponsible” and “demoralizing” for the forces.
The issue took a decisive turn when the IAF Chief, in a press briefing, firmly stated that the Air Force operates with “complete operational independence” and that all strategic and tactical decisions are made without political interference. The statement was widely seen as a rebuttal to Gandhi’s claims.
Seizing on the IAF Chief’s remarks, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Earth Sciences and senior BJP leader, took to social media to directly target Rahul Gandhi. Posting the clip of the IAF Chief’s statement, Rijiju wrote:
“Why do you keep lying? The Air Chief Marshal himself has said the IAF has full freedom. Spreading falsehoods about our armed forces is not just irresponsible—it is dangerous.”
Rijiju accused the Congress leader of deliberately creating a misleading narrative to score political points, adding that such remarks weaken the morale of soldiers and tarnish India’s global image.
This latest clash is part of an ongoing pattern of high-intensity exchanges between the BJP and Congress over matters of national security. While the BJP projects itself as the party that has strengthened the armed forces—citing the Balakot airstrikes, modernization programs, and increased defence budgets—Congress has often accused the ruling party of politicizing military achievements for electoral gain.
In this instance, the BJP has framed Rahul Gandhi’s comments as not only factually incorrect but also disrespectful to the defence forces’ leadership. Party spokespersons amplified Rijiju’s criticism, urging Gandhi to apologise to the nation and the armed forces.
Congress, on the other hand, has defended Rahul Gandhi’s stance, saying that his concerns were about the broader policy environment and not directed at questioning the competence or independence of the armed forces. Congress leaders have accused the BJP of twisting Gandhi’s words to divert attention from real issues like unemployment, inflation, and border tensions.
The exchange has gone viral on social media, with #WhyDoYouKeepLying and #IAFFullFreedom trending on X (formerly Twitter). Supporters of the BJP lauded Rijiju’s direct attack, while Congress supporters accused the government of using the IAF Chief’s statement as political cover.
Several defence analysts have weighed in, noting that while civilian oversight of the military is a normal democratic practice, operational autonomy is crucial and, according to the IAF Chief, firmly in place. The timing of the political spat, they say, reflects the charged atmosphere ahead of upcoming state elections.
With both sides refusing to back down, the issue is likely to remain a flashpoint in political debates over the coming weeks. For the BJP, it offers an opportunity to portray the Congress as out of touch with national security realities. For Congress, it is a chance to continue pressing its argument that the ruling party uses nationalism selectively.
One thing is clear—the intersection of military affairs and politics in India remains a volatile space, where a single statement can ignite days of heated rhetoric.
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