Political row erupts as BJP targets Congress over Machchhar’s valor
New Delhi, October 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned the alleged silence of the top leadership of the Congress party regarding the bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said on Sunday that Captain Smit saved many lives by displaying indomitable courage on the plane, but till now not a single word, post or press statement has come out from the Gandhi family in his name.
Sudhanshu Trivedi said in a press conference at the BJP headquarters here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Captain Smit and the heads of state of Israel and the United States have also praised his bravery. In such a situation, the silence of the Gandhi family raises questions. He asked why there has been no response from the Congress party on Captain Smit’s bravery.
He said that media reports of alleged support from Al-Qaeda for the accused pilot, Imam al-Hamami, have also surfaced. Despite this, Sonia, Priyanka, and Rahul have not made any statement regarding Captain Smit’s courage. Referring to the Batla House encounter, he said that those who expressed sympathy for the accused in that incident are showing no compassion for Captain Smit.
Trivedi said that Rahul Gandhi has been expressing his views on the Gaza issue through “X” posts, Congress Working Committee resolutions, and newspaper articles, but not a single word has come from him regarding Captain Smit’s case. The Congress’s top leadership has remained silent on this matter under pressure from its alleged vote bank. The entire country should take note of this behavior of the Congress’s top leadership.
He asked why those who hailed Zakir Naik as a messenger of peace, Afzal Guru as a victim of circumstances, Burhan Wani as a misguided youth, Yakub Memon’s hanging as “judicial murder,” and questioned the Batla House encounter, are now silent on Captain Smit’s case.
Trivedi described it as a clash of two ideologies, saying one ideology is allegedly soft on terrorism, while the other is willing to risk the country and its people’s security. He cited Captain Smit as an example, saying he risked his own life to save the lives of those on board the plane.
The BJP MP also questioned the appointment of Imran Masood as the acting president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee. He said the Congress made this appointment on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. He also referred to Imran Masood’s alleged “cut him into pieces” statement about Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and questioned the Congress’s decision.
Sudhanshu Trivedi also targeted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning his election as party president. He questioned why Kharge, frustrated by repeated electoral defeats, was adopting Rahul Gandhi’s alleged distorted mindset.
He said that during Kharge’s election as Congress president, several Congress leaders had demanded that the electoral college list be made public, but the party did not provide it. On this basis, he questioned the validity of Kharge’s election.
He said that during the nominations of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, other family members were present in the nomination room, while it was revealed that Kharge was not allowed inside. Trivedi told the Congress party that before discussing legal and illegal matters, it should introspect.
