BJP calls Congress 'Pakistan working committee' over Channi's remarks

New Delhi: On Saturday, the BJP accused the Congress of repeatedly supplying "oxygen" to Pakistan and criticised the opposition party over remarks made by its leader, Charanjit Singh Channi, questioning the legitimacy of the Balakot air strikes conducted after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

During a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged, "Inside it is the Congress Working Committee, but outside it acts like the Pakistan Working Committee."

Patra highlighted what he described as a pattern within the Congress, wherein its official resolutions and leadership present a united stance, while individual leaders express conflicting views.

The Congress Working Committee, the party's central decision-making body, passed a resolution on Friday urging the Centre to take decisive action against Pakistan for its continued involvement in terrorism targeting India.

Speaking to reporters, Patra pointed out that shortly after the CWC adopted the resolution, Channi held a "parallel" press conference, questioning the authenticity of India's air strike in Balakot following the Pulwama attack and also taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He told reporters, "The Congress spares no occasion to supply oxygen to the Pakistani Army and terrorists and to boost their morale." Referring to the Pulwama attack, Channi said 40 Indian soldiers were killed, and when elections were held, the government boasted of action.

"But we have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed. If someone threw a bomb in our country, would people not know? They claim to have conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan, but nothing had happened. Surgical strikes were not seen anywhere, and no one knew about them," the former Punjab chief minister said.

Asked if he had sought proof of those strikes, he said, "I have always been demanding that." He later backtracked following the BJP's counterattack and said no proof was needed.

Patra, however, countered the criticism, asserting that the "oxygen" supplied to Pakistan cannot be taken back.

The BJP leader pointed out that opposition figures such as Akhilesh Yadav and parties like AAP were referenced by a Pakistani senator for their remarks questioning the Modi government's stance. He further alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was attempting to align himself with them to gain recognition in Pakistan.

Patra also highlighted controversial statements made by several Congress leaders regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, using them to criticise the party for inconsistencies between its official resolutions and individual members' public comments.

He specifically named Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Maharashtra MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, Himachal Pradesh minister Inder Singh, and Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra, accusing them of raising concerns about the attack, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 civilians, primarily tourists.

Patra alleged that Congress leaders have questioned the necessity of war and raised doubts about whether terrorists had religiously profiled their victims, suggesting that this casts doubt on the sincerity of the party’s official stance.

"It is more than a coincidence and is, in fact, a pattern," he asserted.

(inputs from PTI)