In a bold interview, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy made a rare and explosive claim — Pakistan successfully downed five Indian fighter jets, using Chinese aircraft that outperformed India’s much-hyped French-made Rafale jets.
“Pakistan downed five of our planes. They used Chinese planes to down our planes, which were French,” Swamy said. He criticised the Rafale jets, saying, “The Chinese planes were good, but the French were not. Rafale is not up to the mark as per India’s needs.”
The veteran politician didn’t stop there. He went further, accusing the government of corruption in the Rafale deal and alleging that no investigation would ever take place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Corruption happened in Rafale which won’t be investigated till Modi is the PM,” he stated.
Swamy also raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in India’s defence leadership. He claimed that no probe into the aircraft losses would be initiated as long as Modi remains in power. “With Modi in power, no discussions or investigations will happen about how and why those jets were downed,” he said.
This military confrontation erupted after an April attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that killed 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan but did not provide evidence.
In response, Pakistan launched a large-scale counterstrike named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting Indian military positions across multiple areas. According to reports, Pakistan brought down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones.
The battle between the nuclear-armed neighbours lasted nearly 87 hours and ended on May 10 with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
When asked about the losses, Indian Air Marshal AK Bharti deflected. “Losses are a part of combat,” he said, declining further comment. “We have achieved our objectives. All our pilots are back home,” he told NDTV.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that Indian airstrikes resulted in the martyrdom of 53 people, including 13 armed forces personnel and 40 civilians.
Subramanian Swamy’s blunt comments have blown the lid off an already controversial Rafale deal, casting serious doubts over the combat readiness of India’s air fleet. The suggestion that Chinese jets outclassed Rafales — a deal once paraded as a triumph — raises critical strategic questions. Furthermore, Swamy’s accusations of corruption and cover-up under Modi’s rule could deepen political divides and weaken public trust in defence procurement. If substantiated, these revelations may have long-lasting implications for India’s military doctrine and its relationship with defence suppliers.
