Congress MP Channi again questions Centre’s narrative on terror attacks; BJP says he’s undermining soldiers’ sacrifices

He had also referenced a former Jammu and Kashmir governor’s statement claiming intelligence warnings were ignored ahead of the attack.

Channi had to face huge criticism then, with the BJP calling it a sick statement. Later, he shared online several videos showing that his BJP critics who were Congress leaders earlier used to echo his views.

Channi had questioned the Balakot strike Indian forces carried out after the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 soldiers were killed. He then went further, calling the situation a “failure of intelligence and accountability” and insinuated that such incidents conveniently resurface ahead of elections.

The former Punjab chief minister had earlier alleged that the Centre uses terror attacks to manipulate public sentiment during elections.

Channi has now asked what the government has done even after 10 days have passed since the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives.

At the press meet in New Delhi, Channi further said, “If surgical strikes were done, then show the evidence.”

His latest statements have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP that he is undermining the sacrifices of soldiers and playing politics with national security.

Political analysts said Channi’s strategy appeared to be to question the credibility of the BJP’s national security narrative. His repeated questions around Pulwama, Pahalgam, and surgical strikes suggest a deliberate political strategy aimed at reframing the debate on nationalism and governance, they added.