Amitabh Bachchan’s Independence Day special of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) has set off a political and social media storm, with critics accusing the government of using serving armed forces officers for “political mileage” in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

The episode, set to air on August 15, features Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (Indian Army), Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (Indian Air Force) and Commander Prerna Deosthalee (Indian Navy) recounting their roles in the cross-border operation against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

In a promo released by the channel, Bachchan is seen giving the officers a ceremonial welcome as they share battlefield accounts. Both Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh had earlier addressed press briefings while the mission was still underway.

However, the decision to have serving officers appear on a primetime reality show has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters. Social media users have called it a “PR stunt” and an “unprecedented politicization” of the military.

“This is just unbelievable. Operation Sindoor heroes appearing on national TV just because one ‘nationalist’ party wants to milk some votes?” wrote one user on X. Another posted, “Our Army was sacrosanct, above politics. Today, serving soldiers are paraded on KBC for political branding. This is a dangerous precedent.”

Some questioned whether military regulations even allow such appearances. Armed forces protocol discourages wearing uniforms in civilian social settings—restaurants, hotels, or shopping—except for official functions, and headgear is prohibited indoors outside formal or religious ceremonies. While uniforms can be worn at military-organised social events, reality show appearances are a grey area.

Neither the government nor the Defense Ministry has commented on the controversy