Punjab Congress MP Channi demands proof of surgical strikes, backtracks after BJP’s counter

Moments after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today said in the working committee meeting that the Opposition was firmly behind the government in the response against Pahalgam terror attack, former Punjab Chief Minister and CWC member Charanjit Singh Channi again demanded proof for the surgical strikes after the Pulwama attack.

Although Channi backtracked later, the BJP hit back with several MPs and leaders questioning the Congress for continuing to "cast aspersions on the armed forces."

At a post CWC meeting press conference, Channi said the government had not taken any action even after 10 days of the Pahalgam terror attack and claimed that steps, such as annulling visas of Pakistanis and putting the Indus Waters Treaty on hold, have no meaning.

BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan slammed the Congress, saying Channi had, in 2024, disgustingly commented "stuntbaazi" when Corporal Vicky Pahade was killed in the Poonch attack. "And now, he is insulting the armed forces again, saying no surgical strike on Pakistan happened," Kesavan said.

Channi to a question in the press conference said: "Ten days have gone by but no action has been taken by the government. We demand that the government take steps and the entire country is awaiting to witness what action it takes against Pakistan. People are waiting for the 56-inch chest as to when will it act. We demand that the government act fast and give results"

He referred to the killing of CRPF personnel in Pulwama in 2019 and said, "The government even then boasted of action but we have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed. If someone hurled a bomb in the country, won't people 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"

Again asked if he was demanding proof for those strikes, Channi said, "I have always been demanding that."

After the BJP attacked Channi, he backtracked and said no proof was needed for the surgical strikes.

He clarified, "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. We do not ask for proof and no evidence has been sought for it (surgical strikes).  The question today is that we want justice for the families of the victims and the country. We are standing with the government," he said.