Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 16, 2025, Kolkata : In a significant political development, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was forced to distance itself from its Member of Parliament (MP) Saugata Roy after his controversial comments about the India-Pakistan conflict. Roy, speaking in Parliament and later in an interview with ABP Ananda, downplayed the significance of Operation Sindoor, which had been hailed as a show of strength by India in its response to cross-border terrorism. His remarks, which were heavily criticized by political opponents, led to a wave of protests by the state BJP and a swift distancing by his own party.
Saugata Roy, in his remarks, referred to the India-Pakistan conflict as “almost comical,” claiming, “This war is not a war at all. Some aerial vehicles, drones went from here to there, missiles went from here to there. There were no major losses… Where were the terrorist bases destroyed?… The Central government should put the proof before the people.” He also mocked the national sentiment around the operation, calling it a “sticky emotion,” and questioned the success of India’s military objectives, adding, “India has not succeeded in teaching Pakistan a lesson.”
These comments quickly sparked backlash, especially from the state BJP, which accused Roy of trivializing a matter of national security. On Thursday, the BJP organized a protest march in Muralidhar Sen area, using Roy’s remarks as ammunition to target both the Trinamool Congress and its stance on national defense. The BJP’s anger was compounded by the apparent lack of support from the TMC for its own MP’s comments.
In response to the growing controversy, the Trinamool Congress moved to distance itself from Saugata Roy’s statements. The party issued a clarification, stating, “Let us emphatically state that the statement made by Prof Saugata Roy, MP, is not the opinion of the All India Trinamool Congress.” This public distancing highlights the party’s attempt to manage the fallout, especially with an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections in 2026, where national security and the government’s handling of foreign policy will likely remain key issues.
Despite the controversy, the TMC has been careful not to alienate the general sentiment of respect for the armed forces. It has refrained from joining the Opposition’s calls for a Parliamentary session or an all-party meeting on Operation Sindoor, but has instead focused on supporting the Armed Forces in public statements. The party’s cautious approach reflects its concern over the political significance of the issue and its desire to avoid further damage ahead of next year’s elections.
As tensions continue to rise, both within the party and on the political stage, the spotlight remains on how Saugata Roy’s remarks will affect the TMC’s image and its relations with other political forces. With the BJP seizing the opportunity to criticize the party’s stance on national defense, the Trinamool Congress may need to take further steps to manage the fallout from this contentious issue.