Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India] : Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai has sharply criticized the central government’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, accusing them of “big talk and no action.” Rai’s comments came as he mocked the government’s purchase of Rafale fighter jets, claiming they were gathering dust in hangars while the country continues to suffer from terrorism.
Rai displayed a toy Rafale plane with lemon and chillies hanging on it—a common superstition believed to ward off bad luck and the evil eye. He commented, “Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering from it. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack… But, this government, which talks a lot about crushing terrorists, brought Rafale, but they are in their hangars with chilly and lemon hanging on them. When will they take action against terrorists, those who support them, and their backers?”
On April 22, terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in a deadly attack. The central government has vowed to take decisive action against the perpetrators, emphasizing their commitment to crushing terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has granted the armed forces complete operational freedom to determine the response’s targets, timing, and mode.
In response to Rai’s remarks, BJP leaders quickly condemned his comments. CR Kesavan, a BJP leader, called Rai’s actions “reprehensible,” accusing him of attempting to demoralize India’s armed forces. “The Congress Party and its leaders are being disloyal to India and our people,” Kesavan stated, adding that the Congress was trying to defame the country’s forces. He further described Ajay Rai as “reprehensible” and noted that his comments were an attempt to lower the morale of the armed forces.
Pradeep Bhandari, another BJP leader, took to the X platform, accusing Ajay Rai of mocking the country’s forces and labeling the Congress Party as the “Pakistani Congress” and “spokesperson of Asif Munir’s Pakistan in India.”
The Central government has assured the public that the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack will face severe punishment. The government has also initiated strong measures, such as suspending the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, to send a firm message regarding its stance on cross-border terrorism.
The government convened an all-party meeting after the attack, with opposition parties voicing their support for any action the government takes against the terrorists. Reports from the Cabinet Committee on Security indicated that the attack’s cross-border links had been identified, especially following the successful conduct of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which were seen as a significant achievement in the region’s progress towards economic development.