An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at the US National Press Club highlighted the significance of naming ‘Operation Sindoor’. The delegation said that this name has deep cultural symbolism.
Tharoor explained that sindoor is an important symbol worn by married women in Hindu tradition, which is applied at the time of marriage and every day thereafter. The husbands of 26 women were killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which wiped off the sindoor from their foreheads. Pointing out the gravity of the incident, Tharoor said, “Sindoor is red in colour, which is similar to blood. This reflects the concept of ‘sindoor ka badla khoon’ (blood revenge for sindoor).”
He noted that the terrorists deliberately targeted husbands in front of their wives and left the women to witness the brutality. This act was particularly inhumane and India’s response was extremely necessary.
The delegation aims to develop global understanding of the steps taken by India against terrorism after the Pahalgam attack. 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed in this attack, in response to which the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on terrorist bases in Pakistan on 7 May.
The delegation arrived in the US after visiting Brazil, where they are presenting India’s united approach against cross-border terrorism to the international community.