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On the issue of Pakistan, several Congress members have made provocative statements. Among them are Ajay Rai and Charanjeet Singh Channi.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and BJP’s Amit Malviya | File Image/ANI
Despite multiple directives from the Congress party leadership, there is little evidence that discipline has been instilled in the party. On the issue of Pakistan, several Congress members have made provocative statements. Among them are Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, and Charanjeet Singh Channi, former Punjab Chief Minister and Member of Parliament. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has responded aggressively, reminding the Congress of past mistakes. BJP spokespersons have held press conferences every time an opposition member makes such comments.
In addition, the Congress party’s social media handles have also launched an offensive against themselves. The BJP has used their official social media handle on X to draw graphic comparisons between the Mumbai terror attack and the surgical strikes by the Modi government in Uri. One post reads, “Contrast that with PM Modi’s New India: We replied to Uri with surgical strikes. Pulwama was answered at Balakot. Terrorists now know there’s a price to pay.”
Further posts by the BJP highlight historical blunders by the Jawaharlal Nehru regime and continuing through Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. One post states, “From Nehru to Sonia, Congress has mastered the art of surrender – not to the people of India, but to the nation’s enemies. Decades of denial, delays & dangerous politics have cost India thousands of lives. While they offered speeches, condolences, sympathy for terrorists and cover-ups, terrorists ran riots across India. Here’s the truth they want buried.”
Another post criticised Nehru, saying, “In 1947, Nehru avoided naming Pakistan for the attack on Kashmir and dragged the issue to the UN, internationalising a matter we could’ve handled firmly. Jawaharlal Nehru dismissed the need for a strong military, even calling the Army ‘unnecessary’ in 1950. He also gifted China our trust and Tibet on a platter, and ignored intelligence warnings that cost us the 1962 war. His Non-Alignment Policy became a noble excuse for inaction; meanwhile, India bled.”
The BJP also attacked former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her handling of the Punjab issue. “Indira Gandhi made it worse. She played with fire by nurturing Bhindranwale for political gains, only to watch Punjab burn. Her own creation turned against the nation, and her. Congress didn’t fight terror; it manufactured it to suit their vote bank politics. In 1971, Indira Gandhi won the war but released over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers without securing a resolution on the PoK issue or dismantling Pakistan’s terror infrastructure,” the post said.
The BJP, which rose to power with a massive victory led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, also blamed the Congress party for failing to control terror activities during their regime from 2004 to 2014.
BJP claimed there were 7,200 terror incidents in the country during this period. One of the biggest attacks, the 2009 Mumbai siege, happened during the UPA regime. The BJP criticised the Congress for not seeking revenge or ensuring justice for the victims, which included civilians and forces alike. They also list incidents like the Samjhauta Express, Jaipur, Delhi, Pune, and Ahmedabad blasts as examples of Congress’s failures.
After the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Modi government called an all-party meeting to brief political parties on the security situation in Kashmir and the actions taken against Pakistan. All political parties, including Congress, assured the government of their support for any action deemed necessary against Pakistan. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, urging restraint within the party.
Party senior leader Jairam Ramesh issued a notification that no one should speak out of turn on such matters. However, controversy arose when the official Congress handle depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a headless position, labeling him as “Gaayab.” Despite widespread criticism, it took Congress nearly 24 hours to delete the post. Party General Secretary KC Venugopal then issued another advisory stating that only authorised spokespersons or senior leaders should speak on such matters.
The seriousness of the advisory can be gauged from the fact that senior leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared it on her social media post. However, it appears that Congress leaders do not take the advice of their top brass seriously. Ajay Rai and Charanjeet Singh Channi quickly courted controversy with their statements.
The lack of discipline within Congress on such a sensitive issue, coupled with the growing demand among the Indian populace for retribution against Pakistan, has provided the BJP with ample political ammunition.
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