Poonch terror attack ‘poll stunt’ to help BJP, says former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi

“Yeh taiyar kiye huye… saare pehle se taiyar karke hamle karvaye jaate hain. Ye BJP ko jitane ka ek stunt hota, isme sacchai nahin hoti. Log marvana aur unki lashon par khelna BJP ka kaam hai. (These attacks are planned in advance and carried out. This is a stunt to make the BJP win, there is no truth in it. Getting people killed and playing politics over their bodies is what the BJP does),” said Channi, a Congress Working Committee member.

One of the trucks in the convoy bore the major brunt of the attack, with several bullets piercing its front and side windscreen in the firing by the terrorists. (Express photo)

The BJP expressed outrage over Channi’s remarks, calling it an insult to the soldiers and the nation.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar in a post on X said: “Ghastly statement by CWC member Channi belittling the valour of our brave soldiers is no less a crime and an insult to nation. Channi’s shameful statement on the attack on our Air Force personnel in Poonch calling their valour as a stunt shows the bankruptcy and frustration of Channi. The nation will not forgive him. He should hang his head in shame.”

“The Congress and its allies should come clean on this issue. They should publicly disassociate from his statement and ask him to apologise to the nation immediately,” he said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Jakhar said as Channi is a CWC member, his remarks highlight his party’s stance toward the soldiers. He said the Congress and its allies should apologise and distance themselves from Channi’s statement.

Poonch: Security personnel stand guard after a militant attack on army vehicles, in Poonch district, Saturday, May 4, 2024. A search operation is going on in the woods amid inputs about the presence of the militants. (PTI Photo)

Incidentally, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a post on X late Saturday night had said: “The cowardly terrorist attack on our military convoy in J&K’s Poonch is sad and shameful. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his family. I hope the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible.”

Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who was in Jalandhar, condemned Channi’s remarks and asked the Congress whether it will insult soldiers to win elections. He said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge should apologise over Channi’s remarks. “They insult our Army. They question the capability of our Army,” he said.

BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a post on X: “I condemn Charanjit Singh Channi’s statement of calling the martyrdom of an Indian Air Force personnel in Kashmir, ‘Stuntbaazi’. Congress is saying that he was martyred because of elections. This mentality is not just appalling but disrespectful to those who serve our nation. Pakistan and Rahul Gandhi continue to support each other while Congress is belittling the sacrifice of our jawans”

Rakesh Rathore, Punjab BJP general secretary and former Mayor of Jalandhar, condemned Channi’s remarks as unfortunate and said that it shows his disregard for the security forces. “The Congress is dwindling nationwide, leading Channi to resort to such desperate statements. It is a disrespectful attitude towards our soldiers,” he said.