New Delhi: Congress MP, Charanjit Singh Channi was at the receiving end of the BJP’s ire after he demanded proof of the 2016 surgical strikes carried out against Pakistan. The former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) while speaking at a press conference said, the surgical strike “could not be seen”. The statement was made after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), in which the party passed a resolution urging the government to take strong action against Pakistan for the April 22 terror attack in Pakistan, which killed 26 people.
Surgical strikes could not be seen: Channi
Congress leader Channi seemed to have deviated from the party line of supporting the government in any action that it would take to punish Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack. Appearing to confuse the 2016 surgical strike with the 2019 Balakot air strike, Channi said, “If a bomb is dropped on our country, would we not know? They say we had conducted a surgical strike in Pakistan… nothing happened, the surgical strikes could not be seen, nobody found out.”
When questioned by reporters if he was asking for proof for the surgical strikes, Channi answered in the affirmative. He said, “I have been demanding it since the beginning. But the need of the hour is to heal the wounds of the people of our country. We demand that (the Centre) do something, identify (those behind the Pahalgam attack) and punish them.”
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BJP hits back
The BJP was quick to pounce on the Congress following the statement by its MP. They accused Channi and the Congress party of questioning the armed forces. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was quoted by NDTV as saying, “The Congress has questioned the Army and the Air Force again. Charanjit Singh Channi has said again that he does not believe that the surgical strike was carried out and that he wants proof. What kind of mindset does the Congress and the Gandhi family have that they repeatedly accuse the Army and Air Force of lying and say that Pakistan is telling the truth? This is despite Pakistan itself saying the surgical strike was carried out.”
He further suggested that if Channi really wants proof of the strikes, he must visit Pakistan with Rahul Gandhi and check where the surgical strike was done. Sirsa accused the Congress party of indulging in politics at a time when people have lost their lives in a terror attack.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of “defending Pakistan terror”. In a post on social media platform ‘X’ he said, “SICK! Rahul Gandhi’s Congress continues to defend Pakistani terror! Now Charanjeet Singh Channi questions our forces.Why is Congress demoralising our forces at this critical time.Congress is taking orders directly from Pakistan!”
He also shared a video of Channi speaking at the press conference.
SICK!
Rahul Gandhi’s Congress continues to defend Pakistani terror!
Now Charanjeet Singh Channi questions our forces.
Why is Congress demoralising our forces at this critical time.
Congress is taking orders directly from Pakistan!#PehalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/b2MIexdAQA
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) May 2, 2025
Channi’s clarification
Later in the day, Congress MP Channi backtracked on his statement. He claimed that he had not sought any proof of the surgical strikes. He further clarified that Congress stood like a “rock” with the government as it takes steps against Pakistan, after the attack in Pahalgam.
PTI quoted him as saying, “I have said earlier as well 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.”
He denied that either he or his party was asking for any proof or evidence for the surgical strikes. He said, “The issue today is that we want justice for the families of the victims. We are standing with the government.”
Congress meanwhile at its CWC meeting passed a resolution which said that this was the time to teach Pakistan a lesson and curb terrorism effectively.The resolution stated, “The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face full consequences for their actions. The Congress urges the Government of India to act with firmness, strategic clarity and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror into our territory.”
