New Delhi:
The Congress asked its leaders to stick to the party line on the initiative terrorist attack, killing 26 people, its MP Charanjit Singh Channi found itself at the end of a volley by the BJP after demanding evidence of a surgical strike against Pakistan in 2016.
Mr. Channi later said that he did not ask for evidence and is “standing like a rock” with the Congress government as it takes measures against Pakistan after the last week’s attack.
Addressing a press conference on Friday after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) – the party’s highest decision -making body – a strong resolution in which the Center was urged to punish Pakistan for the Pahgam attack, Mr. Channi said that the surgical strike cannot be seen “.
Showing to confuse the 2019 Balkot Air Strike and 2016 surgical strikes, Mr. Channi, who is the Chief Minister of a former Punjab, said in Hindi, “If a bomb is dropped on our country, do we not know? They say that a surgical strike was held in Pakistan … A surgical strike was held in Pakistan … nothing happened, nothing happened,”
Asked if he is asking for proof of the strike, Mr. Channi continued, “I have been demanding it from the beginning. But the need for the hour is to heal the wounds of the people of our country. We demand that we (Center) do something, identify (behind the Pahgam attack) and punish them.”
The BJP considered Mr. Channi’s remarks and accused him and the Congress of questioning the armed forces.
Party leader and Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in Hindi, “The Congress has re -questioned the army and the Air Force. Charanjit Singh Channi has again said that he is not believed that the surgical strike was done and he wants the evidence that the Congress and the Gandhi family said that the pack surgical strike was done.”
Mr. Sirsa also accused the Congress MP of indulging in politics when people lost their lives in a terrorist attack.
“If you want so badly evidence, then check for Rahul Gandhi and surgical strike with Pakistan (Congress MP and Leader of Opposition),” he said.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also accused the Congress of “defending Pakistani terror”.
Sick!
Rahul Gandhi’s Congress has continued to defend Pakistani terror!
Now Charanjit Singh Channi questions our forces.
Why is the Congress demolishing our forces at this important time.
Congress is directly taking orders from Pakistan!#Pehalgamterrorroristtack pic.twitter.com/b2miexdaqa
– Pradeep Bhandari (Pradeep Bhandari) 🇮🇳 (@Pradip103) 2 May, 2025
Sharing a video of Mr. Channi’s comments, Mr. Bhandari wrote on X: “Sick! Rahul Gandhi’s Congress has continued to defend Pakistani terror! Now Charanjit Singh Channi questions our armies. Why is the Congress removing our forces at this important time. Congress is taking orders from Pakistan directly!”
Later in the evening, Mr. Channi said that he did not seek evidence of the surgical strike.
“I have also said earlier that the Congress party is standing in this hour of grief, stand by the government. If the government takes water supply, air or whatever action, we are standing like a rock with it,” he said as a news agency PTI.
He said, “You have talked about surgical strikes. We do not ask for evidence and no evidence has been sought for this …. Today the issue is that we want justice for the victims and the families of the country. We stand with the government,” he said.
Uri attack, reaction
In September 2016, the army’s brigade headquarters was attacked by four militants of Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed near Uri city in Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists advocated the grenade and set fire to a gun. The attack claimed that the lives of 19 soldiers and more than 20 others were injured.
A few days later, on 29 September, Indian Army teams crossed the Line of Control and attacked the terrorist launch pad in Pakistan -occupied Kashmir. Several terrorists were killed in the surgical strike and the army said that it had taken this action as it had received intelligence that terrorist attacks were being planned against India.
Congress resolution
In its resolve, the Congress Working Committee said that it was time to teach Pakistan a lesson and to stop terrorism effectively.
“The masterminds and criminals of this cowardly attack should face full consequences for their actions. The Congress urged the Government of India to urge to work with firmness, strategic clarity and international coordination to separate and punish Pakistan for continuous export of terror in our region.”
The CWC said, “The whole country waits for accountability, answer and justice. In front of such an incompetent provocative, Congress believes that it is not time for politics, but a moment that says for unity, power and national resolve,” CWC said.
