Nana Patole Sparks Row with ‘Video Game’ Remark on Operation Sindoor; BJP, Shiv Sena Slam Congress Leader

Mumbai: Congress leader Nana Patole has stirred a political storm with his contentious remarks on India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Patole alleged that the operation was halted for “trade reasons” and compared it to “children playing video games in a computer room.”

Addressing the media, Patole said, “The sindoor of 26 women in Pahalgam was wiped away, and the terrorists responsible have still not been found. Operation Sindoor was halted for trade interests. Trump said a dozen times that trade would stop with both countries, that’s why Operation Sindoor was stopped. It was done at their signal… Operation Sindoor was just like kids playing video games in a computer room — it was nothing more than that.”

The remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP and Shiv Sena, who accused Patole of belittling the military and insulting national sentiment.

Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule reacted strongly on X, stating, “Congress leader Nana Patole has once again proved that Congress is hand in glove with Pakistan by making an objectionable statement that ‘Operation Sindoor is a computer game’.”

He further added, “Insulting this operation, which created fear in the hearts of India’s enemies, is not just an insult to our brave soldiers and their valour, but to the entire India. Does this insensitive person have any idea of how much pain the families of our martyrs will suffer due to this ridiculous statement of Nana Patole?”

Bawankule continued, “Nana, Operation Sindoor is not a computer game, but it is a brave and courageous action against the terrorist bases of Pakistan. It is a burning tale of valor that will instill fear in the hearts of traitors!”

Echoing the outrage, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said, “Nana Patole has been the child of controversy for the longest time. He makes statements without thinking. Operation Sindoor was not a video game as he suggests. Maybe if he has such low mindset, then he should first engage with his own party leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid to understand the impact of Operation Sindoor.”