Congress and RJD Leaders Denounce IAF Convoy Attack as “Political Stunt”, Triggering Controversy admin, May 5, 2024 Two leaders of the Opposition, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tej Pratap Yadav, have drawn a parallel with the Pulwama attack of 2019, in which 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) men died. They 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 enumerating the instances the Grand Old Party has let down the armed forces. “These are all stunts and not terrorist attacks. There is no truth in it. 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 to 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. Union minister Anurag Thakur criticized these statements, saying, “This is a poor statement. This reflects their mentality.” Punjab leader Sunil Jakhar, who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP, also criticized Mr. Channi’s comments. In a post on Twitter, he said: “Jalandhar BJP candidate Sushil Rinku attacked Mr. Channi, expressing condemnation for his statement and highlighting it as disrespect to the soldiers and the country. After the 2019 Pulwama attack, national security became a key issue during the general election. The attack had led to India’s retaliatory aerial strikes at Balakot in Pakistani territory. Post the BJP’s victory, the Opposition questioned the events and demanded a white paper. Over the years, the Congress had softened its tone, wary of the BJP’s accusation that it was casting doubt on the armed forces. In the recent terror attack on two IAF vehicles in the Sanai area of Poonch, Corporal Vikky Pahade of the Indian Air Force was killed and four other soldiers were injured. Pulwama Attack