Nation paid homage to Operation Sindoor bravehearts at earliest opportunity: Centre

New Delhi, June 27: Amid a row surrounding the six martyrs of Operation Sindoor, the defence ministry on Saturday said the nation paid homage to them at the “earliest opportunity”, and their memory shall always be honoured with the dignity and reverence, it deserves.
In its statement, the defence ministry said the bravehearts were “conferred with gallantry awards” and that it “constituted a formal and national recognition of their valour and supreme sacrifice”. The statement comes in the backdrop of the Congress’s accusation that the government “concealed” the supreme sacrifice made by the six bravehearts during the military operation in 2025 by “not recognising” their martyrdom for a year.
Congress leader Pawan Khera levelled the allegations through social media posts on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, he also shared a link to a report in his post.
The defence ministry, without naming anyone, said, “certain reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media platforms have incorrectly suggested that the supreme sacrifice of six bravehearts during Operation Sindoor have been acknowledged or brought to public notice for the first time only recently”.
“It is clarified that the nation paid homage to these fallen heroes at the earliest opportunity, well before the reports in question. During the official press conference held on May 11, 2025, then director general of military operations paid solemn tribute to these brave soldiers and specifically acknowledged their sacrifice in the line of duty during Operation Sindoor,” the statement said.
These bravehearts were “conferred with gallantry awards and this was published in the press release of August 14, 2025. This constituted a formal and national recognition of their valour and supreme sacrifice in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian defence forces,” it said.
Simultaneously, the Indian Army’s official social media platforms carried tributes to these bravehearts “without delay”, the ministry said.
Also, during the Army Day Parade held in Jaipur on January 15 this year, “the Chief of the Army Staff presented the Sena Medal (Gallantry) to the families of three of these gallant soldiers, while the Chief of the Air Staff did the same on October 8, 2025 in a solemn ceremony, reaffirming the defence Forces’ enduring commitment to honouring those who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation,” it said. (PTI)