Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi sparked controversy on Friday by questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes while urging the central government to take strong action against Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Speaking at a press conference after the Congress Working Committee meeting, Channi criticized the government’s inaction even ten days after the deadly attack. “We demand concrete steps, and the entire country is watching to see what action will be taken against Pakistan,” he said.
“People are waiting for the so-called 56-inch chest to act. We want the government to respond swiftly and deliver results,” he added, pointing to rising public frustration.
Channi also referred to the 2019 Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel and cast doubt over the surgical strikes that followed. “But we have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed. If someone threw a bomb in our country, will people not know? They claim to have conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan but nothing had happened. Surgical strikes were not seen anywhere and no one knew about them,” he said.
Dismissing diplomatic responses like cancelling visas and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty as ineffective, Channi called for more impactful measures.
BJP Slams Remarks, Channi Walks Back
The BJP quickly condemned Channi’s comments, accusing him of insulting the armed forces. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan said, “Now, he insults the armed forces again, saying they (the Army) said that we did a surgical strike on Pakistan, but nobody saw it.”
Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa echoed the sentiment. “Congress has once again raised questions about our army and our air force. Charanjit Singh Channi has said that he does not believe in the surgical strikes and wants proof. What kind of mentality is this? Rahul Gandhi repeatedly raises questions about our army and air force, calling them liars,” Sirsa claimed.
Sirsa further stated, “Pakistan itself has acknowledged that India carried out the surgical strike and inflicted damage. In such a situation, when our people are under attack, Congress is still not refraining from its dirty politics.”
Facing backlash, Channi later issued a clarification, saying, “I have said earlier also that the Congress party, in this hour of grief, is standing by the government. If the government disrupts their (Pakistan’s) water supply, air or whatever action it takes, we are standing like a rock with it.”
