NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai defended his “toy Rafale” jibe on the Centre, stating his intent was to induce defence minister Rajnath Singh to take decisive motion towards terrorism after Pahalgam terror assault which claimed 26 lives.
The clarification got here after BJP leaders strongly criticised Rai for allegedly undermining army morale.
“It’s time to give a reply to those that killed our folks in Pahalgam. When the defence minister went to take supply of Rafale, he hung lemon-chillies on Rafale,” Rai mentioned.
“I simply wished to open his eyes and present him that the folks of the nation need motion towards terrorism. Strictest motion must be taken towards the terrorists, and the folks giving them help must be completed,” he added.
Earlier, an issue erupted after Rai displayed a toy Rafale plane adorned with lemons and chillies, mocking the federal government’s buy of Rafale jets by claiming they had been merely sitting in hangars with conventional ward-off-evil decorations.
Ballot
Do you assume displaying a toy Rafale was an efficient option to convey a message?
“Terrorist actions have elevated within the nation, and persons are struggling due to it. Our youth misplaced their lives within the Pahalgam terror assault. However this authorities, which talks lots and says that they’ll crush terrorists — they introduced Rafale, however they’re of their hangars with chillies and lemons hanging on them. When will they take motion towards terrorists, those that help them, and their backers?” Rai mentioned.
The reference to lemons and chillies appeared to mock Rajnath Singh’s 2019 conventional ceremony throughout India’s first Rafale jet acquisition in France, the place he carried out a “puja” by inserting lemons beneath the plane’s wheels and a coconut on high.
‘Grave offence of aiding Pakistan’
Following Rai’s remarks, BJP leaders alleged that his feedback steered grave offence of aiding Pakistan.
“Take a look at Ajay Rai, UP president of the pro-Pakistan Congress celebration, who’s making headlines in Pakistani newspapers and channels. It is a conspiracy by the anti-Modi Congress celebration to interrupt the morale of the Military,” BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted on X.
BJP chief Tarun Chugh additionally slammed the Congress, accusing it of intentionally focusing on the armed forces.
“The Congress celebration is sadly working a calculated conspiracy to demoralize India’s courageous safety forces. The very weapons that our troopers revere and use to defend the nation are being mocked by Congress. By doing so, they’re committing the grave offense of aiding Pakistan. Their actions are disgraceful, shameful, vulgar, silly, utterly inappropriate—and finally anti-national,” Chugh mentioned.