The appearance of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who became the faces of Operation Sindoor, along with Commander Prerna Deosthalee of the Indian Navy on the Independence Day special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) has ignited controversy.

While many praised the selection of participants for the show, controversy erupted after Kaun Banega Crorepati released a promo of the episode on its social media platforms. Critics took to social media to accuse the government of using the armed forces for political purposes. The episode hosted by actor Amitabh Bachchan will be aired on August 15.

In the teaser, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is heard saying, “Pakistan ye karta chala aa raha hai. Toh jawab dena banta tha sir. Isiliye Operation Sindoor ko plan kiya gaya”. (Pakistan has been doing this. So it was necessary to respond, sir. That is why Operation Sindoor was planned.)

The episode is expected to feature discussions on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the decision to feature the officers on a reality show has drawn criticism online, with netizens questioning how such an appearance was approved so soon after a high-stakes military operation.

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Operation Sindoor was a mission by the Indian armed forces in the early hours of May 7, 2025, in a swift and decisive military action against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The mission carried out 24 precision strikes on nine different targets.