Surgical strike

As India observed the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, we raise these questions on the show: Has geopolitics changed since Pahalgam attack? Is the world now ready to ignore Pakistan's terror links? Watch as General VP Malik,former Army Chief, and Vivek Katju, former diplomat, share their perspectives on these and more on the show.

The BJP launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in Lok Sabha on the India-US trade deal, calling him “wisest fool in Congressdom”. 

In a high-stakes debate on global geopolitics, experts analyze the implications of a reported US military operation in Venezuela. The discussion highlights the alleged failure of Chinese-made air defense networks during the offensive, with one speaker noting that 'the performance obviously has been of a very low quality.' The panel also debates the broader fallout for US foreign policy, including tensions over Greenland and the potential economic impact of steep tariffs on India. Participants further explore the stability of the Venezuelan oil economy and whether US intervention will shift the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere.

On this special report, the focus is on India's major shift in defense doctrine regarding Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The government has declared that any future act of terror will be treated as an 'act of war'. The programme details the implications of this stance, including potential military mobilization, naval blockades, and international diplomatic fallout. It also highlights 'Operation Sindhur' as the new normal for India's counter-terror strategy, signaling a proactive and fitting response to any provocation. The speaker explains the legal definition of an act of war under the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions.

In this Special Report, India Today’s Shreya Chatterjee reports from outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, where the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal are staging a massive protest. The demonstrators are expressing outrage over the continued atrocities against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. One protester, criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived silence on the issue, remarks, ‘If Shabana Azmi’s leg breaks, the Prime Minister tweets about it,’ but questions why he remains silent on the plight of Hindus. The protesters are demanding a ‘surgical strike’ on Bangladesh and urging the Indian government to step in firmly. Shreya Chatterjee highlights the deep anger within the community and the diplomatic challenges facing the government.

A massive controversy has erupted as Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claimed that India was 'completely defeated' on Day 1 of Operation Sindoor.

A significant controversy unfolds as former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claims the Indian Air Force was 'completely defeated' during 'Operation Sindoor'. Chavan alleged that fighter jets were shot down and the force was grounded, prompting a sharp backlash. The BJP and decorated military veterans, including Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor and Major General (Retd) Sanjay Meston, have strongly rebutted these remarks, labeling them as demoralizing and factually incorrect while highlighting the operation's strategic successes. This special report analyzes the political fallout from the Congress leader's statement. The broadcast also covers a major boost to India's maritime defense with the commissioning of the Indian Navy’s second MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopter squadron at INS Hansa, Goa. Experts detail the advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities of these new assets.

On this India Today broadcast, Executive Editor Gaurav Sawant moderates a debate on the controversy triggered by Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s claim that India was ‘defeated on day one’ of Operation Sindoor. Major General (Retd) Sanjay Meston dismisses the allegation, asserting that the Indian Armed Forces achieved ‘total victory’ and ‘surprise’ over the enemy. The panel, including political analyst Sanjay Jha and Sushant Sareen, discusses the strategic strikes in Muridke and Bahawalpur, with General Meston emphasizing that ‘narratives are defined by the Indian Armed Forces’ and not by political rhetoric. The discussion also addresses the Chief of Air Staff’s confirmation of downed Pakistani jets.

In a controversial statement on Vijay Diwas, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan questioned the success of 'Operation Sindoor', claiming India was 'completely defeated' on day one. Chavan also asked, 'Do we need to keep 12 lakhs of soldiers?' suggesting future wars would be aerial. The BJP's C.R. Kesavan condemned the remarks, calling the Congress 'Islamabad National Congress' and accusing the party of insulting the armed forces.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session 2025, defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls against Opposition protests. Shah attacked the Congress party, recalling his youth as a protester in Assam with the slogan 'Assam ki galiyan sooni hain'. He stated, 'Hamaare gyarah saal dekh lijiye', contrasting the BJP's 11-year governance record—citing the surgical strike, Article 370 abrogation, and Ram Mandir construction—with the Congress's tenure. He also criticized Rahul Gandhi's speechwriters and thanked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

In this exclusive report, India Today's Shivani Sharma analyses the Indian Navy's stern warning to Pakistan following the deadly Delhi Blast. Reporting on Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi's annual press conference, Sharma reveals that the Navy is 'waiting for the government's nod' to launch 'Operation Sindoor 2.0'. The Navy Chief clarified that the original 'Operation Sindoor is still going on' and highlighted how the 'aggressive posturing of the Indian Navy in the Northern Arabian Sea' during the May 7-10 strikes kept Pakistan's fleet confined to their bases. The report underscores the military's readiness to retaliate at an 'opportune time'.

A major controversy has erupted over Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's remarks concerning the Indian armed forces and a so-called 'Operation Sindoor' during a by-poll rally in Jubilee Hills. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has strongly condemned the comments and demanded an unconditional apology. During the rally, CM Reddy reportedly said, 'when Pakistan kicked us and we didn't retaliate, and now they say that in Jubilee Hills they'll throw bombs at us, this is the situation of BJP parties'. The statements were made in the run-up to the highly contested Jubilee Hills assembly by-election, where the Congress and BJP are locked in a heated campaign. The BJP has accused the Congress of aligning with Pakistan's narrative and insulting the military, a charge fueled by a separate comment from Congress MP Imran Masood, who allegedly mocked a past surgical strike.

This special report explores the political firestorm surrounding Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy on his 150th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of ignoring Patel's vision, particularly on Kashmir and Article 370. Professor Makhan Lal claimed Patel drafted a resignation letter to Jawaharlal Nehru over Kashmir. The debate, featuring BJP and Congress spokespersons, reviewed historical flashpoints including Hyderabad's integration through Operation Polo, described as India's first surgical strike, and the renaming controversy of the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. The report also examines Prime Minister Modi's statements on 'ghuspetiyas' (infiltrators) and 'Urban Naxals'. BJP's Tuhin Sinha defined Urban Naxals as "white-collar ideological backers of the left-wing extremist movement." The discussion, involving Tuhin Sinha, Nishant Rawal, and Professor Makhanlal, explored historical controversies from the 1947 Kashmir crisis to the Vande Mataram debate, addressing appeasement politics, demographic changes in border states like Assam and Bengal, and conflicting views on the legacies of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel.

This special report focuses on the disarray within Bihar's Mahagathbandhan ahead of the assembly elections, contrasted with the strategic moves of the BJP's Amit Shah. The BGP is saying 'Rahul Gandhi is busy doing foreign trips and vlogging about the food that he is eating'. The alliance is in turmoil, with partners like the RJD and Congress fielding candidates against each other in at least eleven seats, causing widespread confusion. In stark contrast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been actively managing the NDA, successfully persuading rebels to withdraw their nominations. His strategy has also been termed a 'surgical strike' against Prashant Kishore's Jan Suraj party, leading to the withdrawal of three of its candidates and delivering a significant setback to the new political outfit.

This special report unpacks a major political shift in Bihar's Tarapore constituency, where Sakaldev Bind, a candidate from the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), has withdrawn his nomination to join the BJP, pledging support to senior leader Samrat Chaudhary. A reporter on the ground described the development as 'a surgical strike in Tarapore'. This move is being highlighted as a significant setback for the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) ahead of the crucial assembly polls, exposing deep rifts within the coalition. The bulletin examines the BJP's strategy of absorbing rebels and opposition members to strengthen the NDA's position, a tactic described as 'Chanakya Niti' that has dented the poll prospects of the Mahagathbandhan.

This special report focuses on the political controversy ignited by senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram's remarks on Operation Blue Star. He has called the 1984 military action a mistake for which then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid with her life. 'No disrespect to any service officers, but that was a wrong way to retrieve the golden temple,' Chidambaram stated at a literary festival. His comments, which also described the decision as a 'cumulative' one involving the army and civil services and not just Gandhi, have caused a significant stir. The Congress party is reportedly upset, with some leaders suggesting Chidambaram may be under pressure due to pending legal cases. Meanwhile, the BJP and AAP have seized upon the statement, terming it an admission of guilt while criticizing any attempt to diffuse blame from Indira Gandhi. The report also places these comments in the context of other recent statements by Congress leaders that have diverged from the party line.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at an event in Hyderabad on Saturday, sent out a stern message to Pakistan and said the NDA government has shown India’s resolve through the 2016 surgical strike, 2019 Balakot airstrike, and 2025 Operation Sindoor, proving the nation can cross any border to protect its citizens and integrity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who responded to the debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, said that from Sindoor to Sindhu, Pakistan was taught a lesson during the operation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress in the Lok Sabha, accusing the opposition of giving Pakistan a 'clean chit' on terrorism. This was in response to remarks by former Home Minister P. Chidambaram questioning the proof of the attackers being from Pakistan. .

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating ''pura show hai, Modi mein dum nahin hain'.