Former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi Friday sparked criticism from the BJP after he questioned the surgical strikes in Pakistan.
At a press conference in Delhi, the Congress leader said of the government’s action after Pahalgam: “The steps taken so far — they are that the citizens from here were called back and vice versa… What impact did it have?”
“They say surgical strikes were done in Pakistan. Nothing happened, no one saw the surgical strikes. No one got to know,” said Channi.
Asked if he was seeking proof for the surgical strike, the Punjab leader said: “Yes, I have been doing so. But, today the people need their wounds to be healed.”
The BJP called the remarks “sick”. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said: “Rahul Gandhi’s Congress continues to defend Pakistani terror!” In a post on X, he said: “Now Charanjeet Singh Channi questions our forces. Why is Congress demoralising our forces at this critical time. Congress is taking orders directly from Pakistan.”
Channi later backtracked, telling ANI: “There is nothing about surgical (strike) today. I am not asking for proof. What I am saying is don’t try to divert from this [Pahalgam]. This is a very sensitive issue. The innocent tourists who were killed after being asked about their religion — the country and those families want justice today. Government should provide them justice. We are with the government in every way.”