Congress leader told to ‘go to Pakistan’ for questioning Balakot airstrike

Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi came under fire from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after he questioned the authenticity of the 2019 Balakot airstrike and criticised the government's delayed response to the recent Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

During a press conference, Channi cast doubt on the Modi-led government's claims of carrying out a successful surgical strike in Pakistan's Balakot in 2019, stating,

“Kehte hain ji Pakistan mein humne surgical strike kiye the. Kuch nahi hua, kahin nahi dikhe surgical strike, kisi ko nahi pata chala…”[They say they carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan, nothing happened, we didn’t see anything, no one knew about it].

Read: India should remember the Abhinandan episode before violating Pakistan's airspace: Khawaja Asif

He further questioned the Indian government’s slow and confused response in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed and dozens injured.

Channi raised concerns over the lack of intelligence coordination and the absence of security forces in such a sensitive region.

His comments sparked fierce backlash from BJP leaders, who accused him of disrespecting the armed forces.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh responded, “By questioning the surgical strike, Channi has insulted not just the Indian Army but the entire nation. He has disrespected the unity, integrity, and spirit of the country.”

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Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also lashed out, saying, “You can go to Pakistan along with Rahul Gandhi to see proof of the airstrike.” He added that even Pakistan had allegedly acknowledged the damage caused by India’s operation.

However, in reality, Pakistan Air Force intercepted the Indian jet during the incident and captured Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, an event that led to diplomatic embarrassment for New Delhi.

The opposition continues to press the Modi government for accountability over the Pahalgam attack, raising questions about intelligence failures and the delayed security response in a high-risk zone.