“Visit Pak And Check”: BJP After Congress MP Demands Surgical Strike Proof
A political storm erupted on Friday after Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi made remarks questioning the visibility of the 2016 surgical strike against Pakistan, prompting a strong backlash from the BJP. However, Channi later clarified that he wasn’t asking for proof and reiterated his party’s unwavering support for the government’s actions following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
During a press briefing after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Channi appeared to conflate the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot air strike, stating in Hindi that the surgical strike “could not be seen.” When pressed, he said he had always called for clarity but stressed that the focus now should be on bringing the Pahalgam attackers to justice.
The BJP swiftly seized on Channi’s comments. Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the Congress of repeatedly doubting the Indian Army and siding with Pakistan’s narrative. “If you want proof so badly, go to Pakistan with Rahul Gandhi and check for yourself,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari went a step further, accusing Congress of “defending Pakistani terror” and “demoralising the armed forces.”
Later, Mr Channi issued a clarification, saying, “We are standing like a rock with the government. The issue today is about justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. No proof has been asked for, and we do not doubt the valour of our forces.”
The controversy comes even as the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution demanding firm and strategic action from the Centre in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The resolution called on the government to hold Pakistan accountable, stressing that this was a time for national unity, not political divisions.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
