Bengaluru: In a scathing attack on the Congress party, the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said that Indian missiles appeared to have hurt Congress leaders more than they did Pakistan. The party criticised the Congress for allegedly aligning with Pakistan's narrative and called upon it to rise above “partisan agendas” in the interest of national unity and morale.
Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra stated that it was "deeply ironic" that statements made by some Congress leaders had made their way into official briefings of the Pakistan military, being used to validate and push Pakistan’s version of events. Referring to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as “Wazir-e-Ala,” Vijayendra noted that he was praised by Pakistani media for opposing India’s military actions. He further alleged that a senior Congress leader even went to the extent of suggesting that Pakistan was the enemy of the BJP and not of the Congress.
Vijayendra questioned the motive behind Congress's stance, saying that given its historically soft approach to Pakistan, it was baffling to see the party undermine what he termed an “unequivocal victory” by the Indian Armed Forces. He accused the Congress of ignoring the “unparalleled bravery and strategic brilliance” displayed by Indian forces in their pursuit of political opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Do they even realise the magnitude of our achievements?” he asked.
Defending the recent cross-border military action, Vijayendra described Operation Sindoor as a resounding success. He said the Indian Armed Forces struck deep into terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan, eliminating several high-value targets. Among those neutralised were Mudassar Khadian Khas, also known as Abu Jundal, a key figure in Jammu and Kashmir terror operations and the 2008 Mumbai attacks; Hafeez Muhammed Jameel, an internationally recognised terrorist; Mohammad Yusuf Azhar alias Mohd Salim Ghosi Sahab, mastermind behind the IC 814 hijacking and Daniel Pearl’s murder, also linked to the Mumbai and Pathankot-Pulwama attacks; and Khalid alias Abu Akasha, who was heavily involved in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation also took out Mohammad Hassan Khan, mastermind of the Nagrota attack; Abdul Malik Rouf, held responsible for multiple attacks in Jammu and Kashmir; Mudassir Ahmed, linked to the Sonmarg attack; and Maulana Abdul Rauf Asghar alias Rauf Azhar, brother of Masood Azhar and architect of the Indian Parliament and Pathankot attacks. Vijayendra pointed out that each of these individuals was a designated terrorist, many of them blacklisted by India, the United States, and the United Nations.
He further stated that Indian forces had successfully disabled 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, rendering them inoperable and pushing Pakistan to desperately seek a ceasefire. Applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Vijayendra quoted him as having said, “Blood and Water cannot flow together,” referring to Modi’s firm stance that led to the continued suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a move he claimed placed India's interests above all.
Calling Operation Sindoor a historic milestone that combined strategic military excellence with decisive political will, Vijayendra urged the Congress to abandon what he called “petty politics” and instead support the armed forces. He said the country should applaud the courage of its soldiers and the bold leadership shown by Prime Minister Modi, which he said was missing during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Vijayendra’s remarks came in response to Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge’s statement on Monday. Kharge had said that while Indian soldiers successfully destroyed terrorist hideouts, the central government's decision to announce a ceasefire brought disappointment to both the armed forces and Indian citizens.
With IANS inputs