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Here’s How Rahul Gandhi’s Granny Indira Gandhi Begged US President Nixon

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The Commune
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indira gandhi richard nixon rahul gandhi 1971 war pakistan bangladesh

On 29 July 2025, Leader of Opposition, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to launch an attack on the Modi government in the Lok Sabha, accusing it of lacking the “political will” to allow full operational freedom to the armed forces during Operation Sindoor. Drawing comparisons with the 1971 war under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he claimed that the current administration’s constraints led to tactical setbacks and prevented a decisive outcome.

“.There are two words – ‘Political Will’ and ‘Freedom of Operation’. If you want to utilise Indian Armed Forces, you need to have 100% political will and full freedom of operation. Rajnath Singh compared 1971 and Sindoor. I remind him there was political will in 1971. The Seventh Fleet was approaching India in the Indian Ocean, but the PM then said, do whatever you have to for Bangladesh. Indira Gandhi told General Manekshaw to take 6 months, 1 year – whatever time needed—for full freedom of action. The result: 1 lakh Pakistani soldiers surrendered, and a new country was formed,” Rahul Gandhi declared.

He also questioned the timing and disclosure of operational decisions during the operation. “Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor began at 1:05 AM and that by 1:35 AM, India had already called Pakistan to inform them that we had hit non-military targets and that we did not want escalation… These are not my words. These are the words of India’s defence minister,” he stated.

Gandhi alleged that the government had effectively restrained the armed forces. “If you want to use the Indian armed forces, you must have 100 per cent political will. You must give them full freedom of operation,” he said. “At 1:35 in the night, you told Pakistan exactly what you were going to do – that we will not hit military targets, that we don’t want escalation… That is not freedom of manoeuvre; that is surrender.”

He further claimed that the loss of Indian aircraft during the operation was a result of political interference, citing an Indian defence attaché who alleged that pilots were ordered not to strike Pakistani air defence systems.

However, Rahul Gandhi’s invocation of the 1971 war prompted a historical counter-narrative, with critics pointing to a letter written by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to US President Richard Nixon during the conflict. The letter dated 5 December 1971, just days after Pakistan’s pre-emptive strike, appealed for American intervention and outlined the scale of the crisis.

“I regret to inform Your Excellency that around 1730 hours (Indian Standard Time) on the 3rd of December, Pakistan launched a massive air and ground attack on our country all along the western border. Their aircraft bombed Srinagar, Amritsar, Pathankot, Uttarali, Ambala, Agra, Jodhpur and Avantipur. There has also been heavy shelling of the border cities and townships of Ambala, Ferozepur, Sulaimanki, Khemkaran, Poonch, Mehdipur and Jaiselmere. The attack against India was carefully organized and premeditated as is proved by the fact that the Pakistan army struck across the western borders of India stretching from Jaiselmere to Kashmir between 1500 hours and 1800 (I.S.T.).” Indira Gandhi wrote.

She highlighted the gravity of the situation: “I am writing to you at a moment of grave peril and danger to my country and my people. The success of the freedom movement in Bangla Desh has now become a war on India due to the adventurism of the Pakistan military machine. It has imposed upon my people and my Government the imperative responsibility of safeguarding our security and territorial integrity. We are left with no other option but to put our country on a war footing. We have therefore declared an emergency for the defence of India. The grave consequences that should follow Pakistanʼs unprovoked attack on us all shall be the sole responsibility of the Government of Pakistan. We are a peace-loving people but we know that peace cannot last if we do not guard our democracy and our way of life. We are not fighting merely for our territorial integrity but for the basic ideals which have given strength to my country and on which Indiaʼs entire future depends.”

Most notably, she made a direct appeal for Nixon’s influence: “In this hour of danger the Government and the people of India seek your understanding and urge you to persuade Pakistan to desist forthwith from the policy of wanton aggression and military adventurism which it has unfortunately embarked upon. May I request Your Excellency to exercise your undoubted influence with the Government of Pakistan to stop their aggressive activities against India and to deal immediately with the genesis of the problem of East Bengal which has caused so much trial and tribulations to the people not only of Pakistan but of the entire sub-continent.”

 

Rahul Gandhi’s challenge in Parliament, “If Narendra Modi has even 50% of the courage of Indira Gandhi, he should say in the House that Donald Trump is lying about the ceasefire”, has now fallen flat.

(With inputs from Asianet Newsable)

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