New Delhi, July 30: Veteran actor and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan stirred a political row in the Rajya Sabha today while participating in the debate on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, where 26 civilians were killed.

Expressing her grief over the victims, Ms. Bachchan questioned the government’s decision to name the counter-terror operation “Sindoor”, stating that it was inappropriate given the symbolic loss suffered by the widows of the slain. “Why did you name it 'Sindoor'? Sindoor toh ujad gaya,” she said, referring to the traditional red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, which they stop wearing after their husband’s death. “The wives of those who were killed have lost everything.”

Her remarks, though emotionally charged, triggered a wave of reactions from the treasury benches, and the situation grew tense as Ms. Bachchan protested the interruptions during her speech. “Either you speak, or I will speak. When you speak, I don’t interrupt. So please, mind your tongue,” she said, calling out the heckling MPs. The tension escalated when Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, seated beside her, attempted to calm her. “Priyanka, don’t control me,” Ms. Bachchan shot back, clearly unwilling to be restrained.

In addition to criticizing the operation’s name, Ms. Bachchan also raised concerns about the intelligence failure that allowed the Pahalgam massacre to occur. “You have destroyed the faith of the people,” she told the ruling coalition. “The families of the victims will never forgive you.”

The backlash from the BJP was swift. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla defended the naming of Operation Sindoor, saying it was not merely symbolic but a message of strength and retaliation. “The terrorists destroyed the sindoor, but sindoor is not just for embellishment—it symbolizes strength and capability,” he said. “The name was a message: if you wipe off sindoor, we will destroy you. This mission was successful.”

Operation Sindoor, reportedly named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was launched after reports that terrorists had brutally executed Hindu men in front of their wives and children. The operation's name was chosen to reflect the trauma inflicted on the families and to signify the nation’s resolve.

Sindoor, in Hindu tradition, represents a woman’s married status and is deeply tied to cultural identity. The operation’s name, intended as a tribute and warning, has now become the center of a larger debate on symbolism, gendered loss, and national security.

Jaya Bachchan’s comments have added to the growing political friction between the government and the opposition, raising questions not only about nomenclature but also about the broader implications of emotive language in national tragedies.