Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan alleged that the Centre is blending operations with religious propaganda. Speaking on Operation Mahadev, he said, "They know nothing except naming operations after religious symbols." BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticised his remarks and said, "Congress says Op Mahadev's name is communal and polarising...Congress hates Sena, Sanatan and Shakti of Bharat."