New Delhi: Several INDIA bloc parties slammed the BJP Thursday for holding ‘celebrations’ to mark the success of the G20 Summit. The celebrations were held on a day security personnel were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot postpone receiving accolades no matter what happens.
Colonel Manpreet Singh, Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles; Major Ashish Dhonack and Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Bhat were killed in the gunfight with terrorists in the Garol area of Anantnag district early Wednesday. An army jawan was also killed during the encounter.
The Congress organised a press conference at the AICC headquarters here. Addressing the press conference, chairman of the Congress’ ex-servicemen department Col (retd) Rohit Chaudhary alleged the prime minister displayed ‘shameless insensitivity’ towards the martyred officers and soldiers by going ahead with his ‘self-praising celebrations’ at the BJP headquarters while the news of the tragic deaths was being flashed at the same time.
“While the country was shocked with grief as the news of the martyrdom of Col Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonchak and DSP Humayun Bhatt, flashed all over, the Prime Minister was busy getting himself showered with flowers at the BJP headquarters,” Chaudhary said. He asked why the PM did not stop the function and express solidarity with the country in general and the soldiers in particular.
“The Army and the country were feeling hurt over such ‘shameful behaviour’ of the Prime Minister who has otherwise always claims to be a nationalist,” Chaudhary said.
In a post on X, the Congress called the Prime Minister ‘insensitive’ and shared juxtaposed videos of mourning family members of a deceased soldier and Modi being given a rousing welcome at the BJP headquarters Wednesday evening.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also shared the video of the rousing welcome accorded to the PM at the BJP headquarters, and said ‘this could have been postponed, expected more sensitivity, especially on a day when our security forces have fought a fierce fight with militants in Kashmir’.
RJD leader Manoj Jha also slammed the BJP. “On a day when our jawans were martyred, we were also watching celebrations at the BJP office. The nation was watching both visuals together,” Jha said.
“At the time of Pulwama attack, they (government) had said they got to know about it late… But this time they knew everything since morning. The ruling party and the Prime Minister were celebrating…” Jha added.