New Delhi:
A day after a Pakistani minister hinted that his country was behind the terrorist attack in Pulwama – in which 40 CPRF members were killed – Union Minister Prakash Javadekar demanded that Congress “apologizes to the country” for its “conspiracy theories” and its remarks on the incident.
“Pakistan has admitted its part behind the terrorist attack on Pulwama. Now Congress and others who have talked about conspiracy theories must apologize to the country,” he tweeted on Friday morning.
In February, on the first anniversary of the attack, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP, holding the ruling party responsible for “security breaches” and asking “who benefited most from it. the attack?”. Mr. Gandhi also wanted to know the outcome of the investigation into the attack.
Pakistan has admitted its part behind the terrorist attack on Pulwama. Now Congress and others who have spoken out about conspiracy theories must apologize to the country.
– Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) October 30, 2020
The congressman was not the only member of his party to attack the BJP on this issue, although a comment from his colleague was both shocking and inflammatory.
In March of last year, shortly after the attack and the retaliatory airstrikes, BK Hariprasad, a Karnataka congressional leader and former member of parliament for Rajya Sabha who has a history of controversial statements, said: “. .. it seems that Narendra Modi had a match-fixation with the Pakistani people. “
Mr Javadekar’s request follows an attack by BJP chief JP Nadda, who referred both to the Pakistani minister’s comment and to a meeting between Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the head of the Pakistani Army Qamar Javed Bajwa – details of which have been leaked to the Pakistan Assembly – after the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
The principle of Congress does not believe anything Indian, be it our army, our government, our citizens. So here’s something from his “most trusted nation” Pakistan. Hopefully he now sees some light … pic.twitter.com/shwdbkQWai
– Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) October 29, 2020
Qureshi reportedly told General Bajwa that unless the squadron commander was released India would attack Pakistan “that night at 9 pm”.
“The principle of Congress (a reference to Mr. Gandhi) does not believe anything Indian, be it our army, our government, our citizens. So here is something from his ‘most trusted nation’ Pakistan. Hopefully he now sees some light. .. ”Mr. Nadda tweeted.
The Pulwama attack – which took place weeks before last year’s Lok Sabha election – and the subsequent Indian Air Force airstrikes, sparked political fighting around a a story built by the BJP around a harsh anti-terrorism policy that the party repeatedly raised during the campaign.
Congress and the left were among those who accused the BJP of capitalizing on the issue.
Pakistani Minister Fawad Chaudhury told his country’s national assembly on Thursday that “humne Hindustan ko ghus ke maara (We hit India at home) “.
However, faced with an outcry, the minister then rephrased his line as follows: “Pulwama ke waqiyeh ke baad, jab humne India ko ghus ke maara (When we hit India home after Pulwama) “.
India responded to the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama with airstrikes against a terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated by sending fighter jets to target Indian military installations.
The strike was blocked, but an Indian plane crossed the line of control and its pilot, Wing Commander Varthaman, was captured. He was released two days later.
Mr. Chaudhury later claimed he was referring to these strikes.
