BJP accuses Congress of doublespeak, says leaders "demoralising Army"

The BJP has mounted an all out attack on the controversial remarks by Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai criticising the Central government for not doing enough to respond to the Pahagam attack, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday accused the Congress of doublespeak, claiming that while the party and INDI alliance voice support for the government, on the other hand their leaders "give statements against the country and demoralise the armed forces."

"After the Pahalgam attack, there are tensions at the India-Pakistan border. While Pakistan is continuously violating the ceasefire on the border, the Congress and India alliance leaders are making statements targeting the Army," Sudhanshu Trivedi said during the press conference.

The BJP spokesperson compared it with Pakistan's tactic of denying their role in terrorism.

"On one side, Congress and INDI leaders say they are with the government, but on the other hand, their leaders give statements which are against the country and demoralise the Armed Forces. It is similar to what Pakistan does but denies their role," Trivedi said.

The BJP leader's comments were made as Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had claimed that a fighter jet like Rafale still stands with lemon and chilli, but the people in power are not doing anything in the name of action.

Displaying a toy plane with Rafale written on it and with lemon-chillies hanging on it, Ajay Rai said, "Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering from it. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack... But, this government, which talks a lot, says that they will crush terrorists - they brought Rafale, but they are in their hangars having chilly and lemon hanging in them."

Earlier today, Rai stood firm on his earlier remarks, saying that he presented the fighter jet symbolically because the country wants to see action being taken against perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"I'm just asking when Rafale will do its job," Rai said. The Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said that while the Congress stands with the government, the government has to make a decision, and when it does not, people will question and criticise it.

"It is time to give a reply to the ones who killed our people in Pahalgam...When the Defence Minister went to take delivery of Rafale, he hung lemon-chillies on Rafale. I just wanted to open his eyes and show him that the people of the country want action against terrorism... Strictest action should be taken against the terrorists, and the people giving them support should be finished", Rai told ANI. The Congress leader alleged that those in power, be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, or Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, are confusing the country. The tears of the family members of Pahalgam attack victims have dried up, but still no action has been taken by the government, he alleged.