WEBDESK: A dramatic session in the Indian Parliament saw Congress MP Amarinder Singh claim he was an eyewitness to the crash of a Rafale fighter jet. He accused the Modi government of hiding the incident and misleading the public.
Singh presented photographic evidence of the wreckage during the ongoing debate on Operation Sindoor. He stated that the Rafale jet crashed near Bhisiana Air Force Station in Bathinda, Punjab, and that he personally visited the crash site. “I saw it with my own eyes. I brought pictures. The wreckage had the tail marked ‘BS001’,” said Singh during his speech.
He accused the Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry of lying to the nation. Singh criticised Air Marshal Bharti for calling the destroyed aircraft “unidentifiable” and claimed the government attempted to cover up the crash. “You lied to the people. You made a fool of the country,” he said, pointing directly at the government benches.
The crash occurred on 7 May 2025, during India’s Operation Sindoor. The Rafale jet reportedly went down near the village of Akali Kaur Singh, outside Bathinda. One local labourer died, and nine others were injured due to the explosion and fire. The pilot ejected safely and was taken to hospital.
Wreckage found at the site included engine parts, a missile piece, and the aircraft’s tail clearly showing the serial number and Rafale markings.
Some media outlets such as BBC Verify, Aviation Week, and Pakistani news outlets, later substantiated what Singh said and stated that the images were real. Video by Khyber News As well, Indian soldiers could be seen retrieving wreckage at the crash scene.
Despite mounting evidence, the Indian Air Force and Defence Ministry have not issued any formal statement. They have neither confirmed nor denied that a Rafale jet crashed.
International sources have added weight to the claims. Pakistani intelligence and French sources labelled the crash as the first confirmed combat loss of a Rafale jet by India. CNN and Defence Magazine also reported that French experts verified the parts shown in the images.
However, Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale, declined to comment on reports of other Indian aircraft losses.
The absence of an official response raises serious questions about the Modi government’s transparency. With the country engaged in an active military campaign, the public and media are now watching closely for answers.
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