'Pre-Poll Stunt': CS Channi On Terror Attack That Killed Air Force Jawan - won

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, in which a soldier of the Indian Air Force has died, has become grist to the political mill amid the massive seven-phase election across the country. Two leaders of the Opposition, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tej Pratap Yadav, have drawn a parallel to the Pulwama attack of 2019 in which 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) men died, and alleged that Saturday's attack was also a "stunt" to help the BJP win.

Their comments have provided the BJP a handle to attack the Congress, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur ripping into the Grand Old Party, enumerating the instances the Grand Old Party have let down the armed forces or caused the loss of Indian territory.

"These are all stunts and not terrorist attacks. There is no truth in it. The BJP is playing with the lives of people and bodies," Mr Channi said while campaigning in Jalandhar, from where he is contesting.

"These attacks are not really happening but just meant to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party... Whenever elections take place, such stunts are played like it happened last time," he added, pointing at the 2019 Pulwama attack.

In Patna, Tej Pratap Yadav toed a similar line. "Whenever elections come, Pulwama and terrorist attacks take place... Our soldiers were martyred because of Prime Minister Modi ji," he said.

"This is a poor statement. This reflects their mentality," said Union minister Anurag Thakur. "Instead of strengthening the army, they did brokerage for 10 years... After Pulwama we did surgical strike. These people held a hearing at 2:30 pm to stop the hanging of the Parliament attack accused... People will not forget that 1000 km has been taken away - the area of Aksai Chin, a part has been taken by Sri Lanka," he added.

Punjab leader Sunil Jakhar, who is among those who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP , also slammed the comment of Mr Channi. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said:

Ghastly statement by CWC member Channi belittling the valour of our brave soldiers is no less a crime and an insult to nation. Channi's shameful statement on the attack on our Air Force personnel in Poonch calling their valour as a stunt shows the bankruptcy and frustration of… — Sunil Jakhar(Modi Ka Parivar) (@sunilkjakhar) May 5, 2024

In Saturday's terror attack on two IAF vehicles in the Bakrabal (Sanai) area of Poonch, Corporal Vikky Pahade of the Indian Air Force was killed and four other soldiers injured.