Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has ignited a fresh political storm with his comments labelling ‘Operation Sindoor’ a "failure," drawing fierce backlash from the BJP and other political figures.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Raut said, “Operation Sindoor was a failure. However, in the interest of the nation, the opposition does not want to talk much about it.” Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, Raut blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the security lapse. “As penance, Amit Shah should resign. Prime Minister Modi should remove him from the cabinet,” he added.

The comments have triggered an angry response from the BJP, which accused Raut of demoralizing the armed forces and politicizing national security. BJP national spokesperson Tuhin A. Sinha said, “This is no longer Balasaheb Thackeray’s party. Sanjay Raut’s comments are a disgrace and an affront to the bravery of our armed forces.”

Political analyst Pradeep Bhandari also weighed in, stating on social media, “Calling ‘Operation Sindoor’ a failed mission echoes enemy propaganda. This undermines the morale of our forces and aligns with those attempting to question India’s fight against terrorism.”

From within the Shiv Sena ranks, Maharashtra minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam condemned Raut’s remarks as “a disgrace to the country.” He asserted that Operation Sindoor, conducted between May 7 and 10, had "successfully neutralized terror camps across the border" and should be viewed as a strategic success.

Even Sanjay Nirupam, a former Congress leader now with the Shiv Sena, criticized Raut, saying, “While the nation celebrates our armed forces, this kind of commentary reflects a mindset that seeks political relevance at the cost of national unity.”

The controversy comes shortly after Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Operation Sindoor in a speech in Maharashtra, calling it a "decisive strike against terror" and saying that if Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, "he would have hugged PM Modi" for the mission’s success.

Carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor targeted multiple terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and was described by the government and defence officials as a key move in India’s counter-terrorism campaign.