• Uttam Kumar Reddy

The Congress Party unequivocally appreciates and applauds the role of the Indian Air Force for what was a very decisive victory in the recent Indo-Pakistan four-day operation that took place. The Congress Party is very proud of the way the Indian Air Force secured a spectacular victory and whether it was striking the terrorist camps in 9 bases in various places in Pakistan or defending our skies, the Indian Air Force truly trusts skies with glory, very-very outstanding operation.

However, there are certain things that we must keep in mind. The Air Chief Marshal AP Singh who has recently made several statements…they should concern all of us about the Air Defence of the Country. He has pointed out that the severe delays in supply of fighter aircraft or weaponry is a serious problem in the Air Force. As Members of the Parliamentary Defence Committee in the last Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, Shri K. C. Venugopal Ji, Shri Revanth Reddy and myself, pointed out on several occasions that against a sanctioned strength of 42 operational fighter squadrons, India’s each operational fighter squadron has 16 to 18 fighter aircraft. India only has 31 squadrons as of now, which is substantially lower than what is required squadrons, especially when now we have a collusive threat from our borders, especially from both China and Pakistan. The Congress Party feels that the Indian Air Force’s concern about not having the full strength is genuine.

Also, all three-armed forces are well short of the sanctioned strength in manpower. The recruitment process slowed down during Covid-19 and never picked up since. So, all three services are short of manpower by over 10 % of the sanctioned strength. Actually, we should be going beyond sanctioned strength because now we have a threat on, but even the sanctioned strength is not fully met in terms of manpower or in terms of aircraft for the Air Force.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s failure to deliver Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets in time can prove to be serious problem for the Air force. The Chief of the Air Force himself has expressed his unhappiness about the situation and the whole country and the government of India must wake up to the reality that we need to strengthen our armed forces considerably more. To quote the Air Chief Marshal, ‘India has fallen behind China in Defence Technology and production even as our training standards remain superior. This is a matter that should be of serious concern and the Congress Party urges the government to take the necessary corrective steps.

The Indian Air Force needs now about 35 to 40 fighter jets annually and the HAL is contracted to supply 24 aircrafts per year and has failed to deliver even that. The Air Chief in his statement has also flagged deeper malice, contract signed with unrealistic deadlines, vitiating the procurement process and eroding institutional trust. Despite the BJP’s grand declaration of Atmanirbhar Bharat, as of today…, the Congress Party supports rapid indigenization. Indigenization has not so far fulfilled the needs of the defence forces, both in quality and quantity, and the government needs to take further urgent steps on this.

Also, a very relevant valid point, pointed out by the Chief of the Air Force- talent shortage, especially in the Air Force, is a matter of serious concern. The best brains in the country are not coming into the Air Force and this is an issue that the government of India needs to ensure that the best brains in the country, both in the operational wings of the Air Force and in the Research and Defence remain in the country. Wherever R&D is being done, the best possible brains are needed which is not happening now. In the words of the Air Chief-‘technology delayed is technology denied’. The news about Rafale aircraft being shot down in the recent operation, the Congress Party salutes the Indian Air Force, every single person, their fighter pilots, their airmen, their officers for the glorious victory achieved in the four-day war, but as it appears very clearly, Rafale fighter aircraft were downed in the four-day operations. And when Rahul Gandhi Ji first pointed it out, as a question to the External Affairs Minister, it was bizarre and strange that the ruling party functionaries at all levels accused him of not being patriotic. Rahul Ji said in the first instance for which a lot of negative campaign was done against him by the BJP.

Now, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has confirmed that Rafale aircraft were brought down in the four-day operation. Air Marshal Bharti, the DG Air Operation sits in the DGMO briefing, he said that ‘losses are normal in a combat, the objectives of the whole operation have been achieved, all the pilots have come home’.

It’s great that the objective has been achieved and all the pilots have come home, but the fact that the fighter aircraft were downed is something that needs to be government of India should stop denying that, now that the CDS himself has mentioned it and indirectly Air Marshal Bharti had mentioned it in his briefing along with DGMO, when the Director General Military Operations spoke to the press along with all the three service directors of operations. He specifically said when replying to a question from the media- losses are normal in combat, the mission objectives have been achieved and all the pilots are home. He means the pilots have come home, the aircraft have not returned to the bases.

And lastly, the government of India has never clearly stated how and why the US President first announces the ceasefire and many hours later, may be 12-18 hours later, the DGMO Pakistan calls up the DGMO of India and then ceasefire is agreed upon. This is another aspect that the government of India is trying to somehow not come out with what really has happened because how did the US President announce a ceasefire in his tweet well before the DGMOs of the respective countries spoke. These are very important issues for the country.

The Congress Party is very proud of our armed forces who did a great job in the recent four-day Indo-Pakistan operation but the government of India must be more transparent of what actually happened and that there must be a reassessment of technology and the way forward must be clear and transparent.

Based on the press briefing on May 31, 2025