Sat May 17 15:27:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, has accused the government of India of a “crime” for supposedly informing Pakistan about the start of Operation Sindoor, citing a statement by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Gandhi questions who authorized this action and what the cost was in terms of Indian aircraft. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit refuted Gandhi’s claims, stating his interpretation of Jaishankar’s comments is a misrepresentation of facts. They clarified that Pakistan was informed during the early phase *after* the operation began, not before.

**News Article:**

**Controversy Erupts Over Operation Sindoor: Rahul Gandhi Accuses Government of “Crime,” MEA Refutes Claims**

**New Delhi – May 17, 2025** – A political firestorm has erupted following accusations made by Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, regarding India’s recent Operation Sindoor. Gandhi claims the government committed a “crime” by allegedly informing Pakistan about the impending operation targeting terrorist infrastructure *before* it began.

Gandhi based his accusation on a purported statement made by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, which he interpreted as an admission that Pakistan was forewarned. In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi questioned the authorization for such an action, asking, “Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?”

However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly refuted Gandhi’s claims, branding them an “utter misrepresentation of facts.” In an official statement, the MEA clarified that Jaishankar’s comments referred to communication with Pakistan *during the early phase* of the operation, not before its commencement.

“EAM had stated that we had warned Pakistan at the start, which is clearly the early phase after Op Sindoor’s commencement. This is being falsely represented as being before the commencement,” the MEA statement emphasized.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit has also weighed in, stating that Jaishankar’s words were being misquoted and that he never indicated Pakistan was informed prior to the launch of Operation Sindoor.

The controversy comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a military action reportedly targeting terrorist infrastructure. The conflicting narratives surrounding communication with Pakistan have added a layer of political complexity to the operation.

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