The phobia assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, during which a soldier of the Indian Air Power died, has develop into grist to the political mill amid the large seven-phase election throughout the nation. Two leaders of the Opposition, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tej Pratap Yadav, have drawn a parallel with the Pulwama assault of 2019 during which 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Power) males died, and alleged that Saturday’s assault was additionally a “stunt” to assist the BJP win.
Their feedback have offered the BJP a deal with to assault the Congress, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur enumerating the cases the Grand Outdated Get together has let down the armed forces.
“These are all stunts and never terrorist assaults. There isn’t a reality in it. The BJP is enjoying with the lives of individuals and our bodies,” Mr Channi mentioned whereas campaigning in Jalandhar, from the place he’s contesting.
“These assaults are usually not actually taking place however simply meant to profit the Bharatiya Janata Get together… Each time elections happen, such stunts are performed – prefer it occurred final time,” he added, pointing to the 2019 Pulwama assault.
In Patna, Tej Pratap Yadav toed an analogous line. “Each time elections come, Pulwama and terrorist assaults happen,” he mentioned.
“It is a poor assertion. This displays their mentality,” mentioned Union minister Anurag Thakur. “As a substitute of strengthening the military, they did brokerage for 10 years… After Pulwama we did surgical strike. These folks held a listening to at 2:30 pm to cease the hanging of the Parliament assault accused… Individuals is not going to neglect that 1000 km has been taken away – the world of Aksai Chin… an element has been taken by Sri Lanka,” he added.
Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar, who’s amongst those that crossed over from the Congress to the BJP , additionally slammed the remark of Mr Channi. In a submit on X, previously Twitter, he mentioned:
Ghastly assertion by CWC member Channi belittling the valour of our courageous troopers is not any much less a criminal offense and an insult to nation. Channi’s shameful assertion on the assault on our Air Power personnel in Poonch calling their valour as a stunt reveals the chapter and frustration of…
— Sunil Jakhar(Modi Ka Parivar) (@sunilkjakhar) May 5, 2024
Jalandhar BJP candidate Sushil Rinku attacked Mr Channi. “The previous Chief Minister says it was drama… an individual who remained on such a delicate submit. As a substitute of mourning the demise of saniks and recognising their martrydom, he says it’s drama. I really feel that that is disrespect to our saniks and it’s also in opposition to nation. I condemn it,” he mentioned.
After the 2019 assault in Pulwama, which happened within the run-up to the final election, nationwide safety had develop into a key concern on which the polls had pivoted. Days after the assault, India had retaliated with aerial strikes at Balakot, deep inside Pakistani territory.
After the BJP victory within the election, the Opposition had raised a number of questions and even demanded a white paper.
However through the years, the Congress had softened its tone, cautious of the BJP allegation that the occasion was casting doubt on the armed forces.
In Saturday’s terror assault on two IAF automobiles within the Bakrabal (Sanai) space of Poonch, Corporal Vikky Pahade of the Indian Air Power was killed and 4 different troopers injured.
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