New Delhi, May 30, 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed reports of a campaign named ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which claimed the party would distribute sindoor to women across the country, labeling the news as fake. The denial comes amid intense political backlash and questions about the party’s delay in clarifying its stance.
Who First Announced the Sindoor Campaign?
New Delhi: A report published by Dainik Bhaskar on May 28, 2025, claimed that the BJP was set to launch ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a campaign to distribute sindoor to women nationwide starting June 9, marking the anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term. The report suggested that BJP leaders, MPs, and ministers would undertake door-to-door visits to distribute sindoor and pamphlets highlighting Modi 3.0’s achievements. However, the BJP, through its IT Cell chief Amit Malviya, refuted the report on May 30 via social media platform X, calling it “fake news” and accusing the newspaper of spreading misinformation. Malviya also criticized opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for amplifying the report for political gain.
Why the 48-Hour Delay in Clarification?
Questions have arisen about why it took the BJP 48 hours to deny the existence of ‘Operation Sindoor.’ Critics argue that the delay suggests the campaign was indeed a poorly conceived BJP initiative that was abandoned due to mounting opposition. Prominent opposition figures, including Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Congress leaders Ragini Nayak and Digvijay Singh, MP Pappu Yadav, and folk singer Neha Singh Rathore, fiercely criticized the alleged plan. Rathore, in a viral video, urged women to reject sindoor offered by “strangers” from the BJP, citing cultural sensitivities. The intense backlash seemingly forced the BJP to not only deny the campaign but also label Dainik Bhaskar and its critics as purveyors of falsehoods. Political observers note that this aligns with the BJP’s history of dismissing controversies by discrediting opponents and media, a tactic critics call a “well-known ploy.”
Political Storm and Cultural Sensitivities
The Dainik Bhaskar report had outlined ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a month-long outreach program involving NDA MPs, ministers, and BJP office-bearers, with MPs covering 15-20 km daily on foot and ministers undertaking 20-25 km padyatras twice a week. The campaign was supposedly aimed at promoting Modi 3.0’s schemes. However, the idea of distributing sindoor, a sacred symbol of marital status in Hindu tradition, sparked outrage. Opposition leaders accused the BJP of exploiting cultural symbols for political mileage. A senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, speaking anonymously, clarified, “The party has no plans to distribute sindoor. This narrative is fabricated to malign us.” A 2024 Centre for Media Studies report highlighted that 62% of voters are influenced by unverified social media news, amplifying such controversies.
Opposition and Social Media Backlash
The controversy fueled heated debates on social media, with hashtags like #OperationSindoor trending. Mamata Banerjee, in a public address, called the alleged campaign a distraction from issues like unemployment and communal tensions in West Bengal. Congress leaders labeled it a political stunt, while Sanjay Singh and Pappu Yadav questioned the BJP’s intentions. Neha Singh Rathore’s video further intensified the debate, warning women against accepting sindoor from BJP workers. Supporters of the BJP, however, argued that the party was being unfairly targeted by a misinformation campaign. A 2025 Pew Research survey noted that 78% of Indians rely on digital platforms for news, making such controversies fertile ground for political sparring.
BJP’s Stance and Broader Implications
The BJP has urged media outlets to verify information before publishing sensitive claims. Malviya emphasized that the party’s focus remains on governance, employment, and security, not symbolic gestures prone to misinterpretation. Political analysts suggest the episode underscores the challenges of managing public perception in an era of rapid information spread. The BJP’s swift denial and counterattack on critics reflect its strategy to control narratives, but the 48-hour delay has fueled speculation that ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a real, albeit poorly planned, initiative that was shelved under pressure. The controversy highlights the delicate balance parties must strike when engaging with cultural symbols in political outreach.