“When Rahul Gandhi ji first raised a question to the External Affairs Minister whether any Rafale has been show down, he was bizarrely accused of being anti-national,” said Uttam. “But today, General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, has confirmed that Rafale aircraft were brought down.”

He also cited Air Marshal Bharti, Director General Air Operations, who in the DGMO briefing said: “Losses are normal in combat. The objectives of the mission have been achieved and all pilots have come home.” Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised that while the pilots returned safely, “the aircraft have not returned to their bases,” highlighting the need for transparency.

He criticised the BJP government for initially denying these losses and launching a campaign against Rahul Gandhi. “Now that the CDS himself has spoken, the government should stop the denials,” he said. “We are proud of our armed forces, but transparency strengthens trust and helps us learn from every operation.”

Uttam Kumar Reddy also raised questions about the ceasefire announcement during the operation. “How did the US President announce the ceasefire well before the DGMOs of India and Pakistan spoke?” he asked. “The government of India has never clearly explained how this happened.”

He stressed the need for a serious reassessment of India’s defence technology, pointing out that most of the firing during the four-day operation happened from within each country’s international borders. “Yet, we lost fighter aircraft. This requires a thorough review of our technological capabilities,” he said.

Responding to BJP leader Sambit Patra’s criticism that the Congress was more focused on India’s losses than Pakistan’s, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “Any government must be transparent. Accountability is a normal thing in a democracy. We are proud of the armed forces and their devastating impact on Pakistan. But telling the country about our own losses is also important.” He reminded that General Chauhan himself said: “We must learn lessons from any losses.”

Uttam Kumar Reddy rejected any attempts to label the Congress party anti-national. “Our first family, the Gandhi family, has made huge sacrifices for the integrity of this country,” he said. “It was during Congress tenures that the Indian armed forces were strengthened in every possible way.”

Addressing questions about nuclear threats, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “We never progressed from conventional conflict to that stage. India has the necessary safeguards in place.”

He reaffirmed his pride in the Indian armed forces while urging the government to ensure they are equipped, supported, and respected with honesty and transparency. “The government must acknowledge what happened, learn lessons, and be accountable,” he said. “We salute the Indian Air Force for their decisive victory, but we must be prepared for the challenges ahead.”