Indian political circles and media outlets have erupted in outrage following Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan’s public admission that Indian fighter jets were shot down during the recent four-day conflict with Pakistan.

Speaking to Bloomberg, General Chauhan confirmed the loss of Indian aircraft in the skirmish—marking the first official acknowledgment of such losses. This admission directly contradicts previous claims by the Modi-led government, which had consistently downplayed or denied Pakistani military successes.

The revelation triggered a political firestorm. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading the public and called for a special session of parliament to address the matter. Subramanian Swamy, a senior leader from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), confirmed that five Indian jets were downed, adding that the French-made fighter jets had failed in engagements with Chinese aircraft deployed by Pakistan.

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Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other opposition leaders criticized the government for bypassing an all-party consultation before announcing a ceasefire. Several Congress leaders also questioned why CDS General Chauhan disclosed such sensitive military information to foreign media without securing prior approval from parliament.

As of now, the Indian government has not issued any official response to General Chauhan’s remarks. Political analysts and media commentators in India suggest the Modi administration may attempt to distance itself from the statement or dismiss it entirely.