Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 5 (ANI): After Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai stirred a controversary over ‘nimbu mirchi on Rafale’ remarks, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday questioned how such statements could be made.
Speaking to ANI, Soundararajan said, “I am very disheartened to know that the Congress leader from UP has made a derogatory statement against Rafale…how can they say that? How will Sonia Gandhi, Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Stalin react to this?”
Earlier today, Rai stood firm on his earlier remarks, saying that he presented the fighter jet symbolically because the country wants to see action being taken against perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.”I’m just asking when Rafale will do its job,” Rai said.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said that while the Congress stands with the government, the government has to make a decision, and when it does not, people will question and criticise it.
“It is time to give a reply to the ones who killed our people in Pahalgam…When the Defence Minister went to take delivery of Rafale, he hung lemon-chillies on Rafale. I just wanted to open his eyes and show him that the people of the country want action against terrorism… Strictest action should be taken against the terrorists, and the people giving them support should be finished”, Rai told ANI.
On Sunday, Rai stoked controversy for criticising the central government’s “big talk and no action” against perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that they purchased Rafale fighter jets but those are lying in hangars with “nimbu mirchi” (lemon and chillies) hanging on them.
Displaying a toy plane with Rafale written on it and with lemon-chillies hanging on it, Ajay Rai said, “Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering from it. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack… But, this government, which talks a lot, says that they will crush terrorists – they brought Rafale, but they are in their hangars having chilly and lemon hanging in them. When will they take action against terrorists, those who support them, and their backers?”
Hanging ‘nimbu-mirchi’ from vehicles is believed to ward off bad luck and the evil eye.
Rai’s remarks triggered strong condemnation from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress of doublespeak, claiming that while the party and INDI alliance voice support for the government, their leaders “give statements against the country and demoralise the armed forces.”
“After the Pahalgam attack, there are tensions at the India-Pakistan border. While Pakistan is continuously violating the ceasefire on the border, the Congress and India alliance leaders are making statements targeting the Army. On one side, Congress and INDI leaders say they are with the government, but on the other hand, their leaders give statements which are against the country and demoralise the Armed Forces. It is similar to what Pakistan does but denies their role,” Trivedi said.
Terrorists shot and killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
Amid the ongoing tensions, India also imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows, according to a notification by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. (ANI)
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