Leaders from Congress and RJD denounce the attack on IAF convoy as a “political stunt,” sparking controversy.

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, alleging that the recent attack was also a “stunt” to help the BJP win. This has provided the BJP with ammunition to criticize the Congress, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur enumerating instances where the Congress has allegedly let down the armed forces. He labeled the attacks as “stunts” meant to benefit the BJP and criticized the Congress for its alleged failure to support the armed forces.

Tej Pratap Yadav in Patna echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Whenever elections come, Pulwama and terrorist attacks take place.” This led to strong backlash from Anurag Thakur, who criticized the Congress for not supporting the army and making deals instead of strengthening the armed forces. Sunil Jakhar, a Punjab leader who has crossed over from the Congress to the BJP, also condemned Mr. Channi’s comments on social media platform X.

The attack in Pulwama in 2019 became a key issue during the general election, and national security was a pivotal factor in the polls. The BJP victory led to demands for a white paper from the Opposition, who raised questions about the attack and India’s response. Over time, the Congress softened its stance, perhaps due to the BJP’s allegations that the party was casting doubt on the armed forces.

The recent terror attack on two IAF vehicles in the Poonch area resulted in the death of Corporal Vikky Pahade of the Indian Air Force and injuries to four other soldiers.