PNS|Hyderabad
Irrigation Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, an IAF veteran, has demanded transparency from the Centre regarding the losses suffered during the four-day Indo-Pakistan conflict, particularly the reported downing of Rafale fighter jets.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday, Uttam also pressed the BJP-led government to act urgently on the concerns raised by the IAF chief about delays in aircraft supply, talent shortages and the gap between sanctioned and operational squadrons.
Introducing himself, Uttam detailed his defence background as a graduate of the National Defence Academy, a fighter pilot who flew MiG-21s on the Chinese border and MiG-23s on the western sector, and a former ADC to the President.
“I have served at many fighter bases that are now in the news,” he said. “I was a four-aircraft leader and a trainer captain. So I understand operational realities,” he said.
He also highlighted his political career as a six-term MLA and an MP, when he served on the Parliamentary Defence Committee along with Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Revanth Reddy.
Uttam began by praising the Indian Air Force’s role in the recent Indo-Pak conflict, describing it as “a decisive victory.” “All of us in the Congress are proud of the way the IAF struck terrorist camps in nine places across Pakistan and defended our skies with precision,” he said. “It was a truly outstanding operation that attained all objectives.”
