Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan stirred controversy in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday during a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, questioning the government over the symbolic naming of India's counter-terror military strike.

In her remarks, Bachchan sarcastically praised the government’s creative team for choosing dramatic names, but asked, “Why the name ‘Sindoor’?”

“Ek toh main aap logo ko badhai dungi ki aapne aise lekhakon ko rakha hua hai, jo bade bade naam dete hai... Ye naam Sindoor diya kyu?” she asked.

The veteran actor-politician then delivered a poignant remark that quickly caught fire on social media:

“Sindoor toh ujad gaya logo ka, jo mare gaye, jinki patniya reh gayi.”

(“The sindoor has already been wiped away for those women whose husbands were killed.”)

Her comments triggered a flurry of reactions online, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where netizens debated the symbolism and timing of her statement.

One user posted: “If sindoor is already wiped off, why name it Operation Sindoor?”

Another viral clip showed Bachchan gesturing towards Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, saying, "Don't control me," while Chaturvedi could be seen hiding a laugh behind her hand.

In her speech, Bachchan also described the Pahalgam terror attack in haunting terms: “It felt like something out of a book or a film… People came, killed so many, and nothing happened. It felt unreal.”

Later, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the House, clarified that no foreign country mediated a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor. He stated emphatically that there were no phone calls between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 16, directly refuting any speculation of third-party involvement.

“India acted decisively and independently,” Jaishankar said.