NEW DELHI: Congress MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi sparked outrage by questioning the credibility of India’s surgical strikes in Pakistan, saying he had “never seen where the strike took place.” The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) came down heavily on Channi, accusing him of disrespecting the armed forces and playing politics over national security .
Speaking at a press conference following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, Channi said, “Till date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know… I have always demanded (proof).”
Channi also took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “People are waiting for the 56-inch chest to act”. He went on to say, “We have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed.”
'Congress has become Pakistan parast party': BJP
His remarks drew a sharp rebuke from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress of undermining national security. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said Channi had a pattern of insulting India’s forces. “In 2024, he disgustingly commented 'stuntbaazi' when Corporal Vicky Pahade was martyred. Now, he insults the armed forces again, saying they (the Army) said that we did a surgical strike on Pakistan, but nobody saw it,” Kesavan said.
Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Channi’s comments reflect the "dirty mentality of the Gandhi family." He asked, “What kind of mentality is this of the Congress party, the Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, that they keep questioning the army, the Indian Air Force?” Sirsa added, “Pakistan itself is saying that India has caused a lot of damage by conducting surgical strikes.”
"Charanjit Singh Channi has again shown the dirty politics and dirty mentality of the Gandhi family, who always question the army and demoralise the forces. I condemn this," he further said.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked the Congress, branding it the “Pakistan Prast Party” for repeatedly seeking evidence of India’s military actions.
"Congress has become Pakistan parast party (PPP). Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says no action should be taken against Pakistan... Robert Vadra and other Congress party leaders have given a clean chit to Pakistan and blamed Hindutva... When the whole country is standing behind the army so that they can give a befitting reply to the terrorists, the Congress party is hurting the morale of the army," Poonawalla said.
Channi issues clarification
After the backlash, Channi attempted to clarify his stance, claiming he was not demanding proof of the strikes but calling for justice for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
"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," he said.
“There is nothing about surgical (strike) today. Its proof is not asked for, and I am not asking for it either… Don't try to divert this. The innocent tourists who were killed after being asked about their religion—those families want justice today,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) while expressing full support to the victims' families, passed a resolution urging the Centre to act decisively against Pakistan. Party leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Pilot, insisted that the Congress stood united with the government on national security.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi forced PM Modi's hand on caste census
Speaking at a press conference following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, Channi said, “Till date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know… I have always demanded (proof).”
Channi also took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “People are waiting for the 56-inch chest to act”. He went on to say, “We have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed.”
#WATCH | Delhi: Former Punjab CM and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi says, "...Till date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country?… pic.twitter.com/lHl3DAwvCo
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025
'Congress has become Pakistan parast party': BJP
His remarks drew a sharp rebuke from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress of undermining national security. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said Channi had a pattern of insulting India’s forces. “In 2024, he disgustingly commented 'stuntbaazi' when Corporal Vicky Pahade was martyred. Now, he insults the armed forces again, saying they (the Army) said that we did a surgical strike on Pakistan, but nobody saw it,” Kesavan said.
Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Channi’s comments reflect the "dirty mentality of the Gandhi family." He asked, “What kind of mentality is this of the Congress party, the Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, that they keep questioning the army, the Indian Air Force?” Sirsa added, “Pakistan itself is saying that India has caused a lot of damage by conducting surgical strikes.”
"Charanjit Singh Channi has again shown the dirty politics and dirty mentality of the Gandhi family, who always question the army and demoralise the forces. I condemn this," he further said.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked the Congress, branding it the “Pakistan Prast Party” for repeatedly seeking evidence of India’s military actions.
"Congress has become Pakistan parast party (PPP). Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says no action should be taken against Pakistan... Robert Vadra and other Congress party leaders have given a clean chit to Pakistan and blamed Hindutva... When the whole country is standing behind the army so that they can give a befitting reply to the terrorists, the Congress party is hurting the morale of the army," Poonawalla said.
#WATCH | Delhi | BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "Congress has become Pakistan Prast Party (PPP). Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says no action should be taken against Pakistan... Robert Vadra and other Congress party leaders have given a clean chit to Pakistan and… https://t.co/DabrGkHPiD pic.twitter.com/0vS5oYXRFc
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025
Channi issues clarification
After the backlash, Channi attempted to clarify his stance, claiming he was not demanding proof of the strikes but calling for justice for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
"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," he said.
“There is nothing about surgical (strike) today. Its proof is not asked for, and I am not asking for it either… Don't try to divert this. The innocent tourists who were killed after being asked about their religion—those families want justice today,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) while expressing full support to the victims' families, passed a resolution urging the Centre to act decisively against Pakistan. Party leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Sachin Pilot, insisted that the Congress stood united with the government on national security.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi forced PM Modi's hand on caste census
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