Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday termed the Saturday terror attack on the Indian Air Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch a ‘stuntbaazi’ to help the Bharatiya Janata Party win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
One soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
Following the attack, security personnel launched a massive manhunt this morning.
Talking to news agency ANI, Channi said, “This is stuntbaazi. When elections come, such stunts are done to make the BJP win.”
“These are pre-planned attacks, there is no truth in them…” he added.
Channi is the Congress candidate for Jalandhar reserved parliamentary constituency.
This remark triggered a row. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa called his statement appalling and disrespectful towards soldiers.
Sirsa condemned Channi’s statement and said, “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,” he added.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also reacted to the terror attack saying that the party does not play politics with terrorism.
“As far as we are concerned, any terror attack is an attack on our nation not just on the ruling party or the government,” he said, adding that the Congress stands with the Air Force, “our brave soldiers and with all those who are trying to protect the integrity of our country.”
“We certainly hope that the government could manage the situation better and that I’m sure they’re taking the necessary steps to go after those who committed this heinous crime. As far as we’re concerned, we don’t want to play politics over the lives of our soldiers…” he added.
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Published: 05 May 2024, 10:05 PM IST