Former Punjab CM Channi sparks controversy by calling Poonch attack “BJP’s pre-poll stunt”

Ex-Punjab chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi stoked controversy with his remark on Saturday’s militant attack on IAF convoy in Poonch in J&K, calling it BJP’s pre-poll stunt.

Channi, who is Jalandhar’s Congress candidate, claimed that this “pre-election” stunt by the BJP is to ensure party's victory in the elections.

Speaking to reporters during his campaign in Jalandhar, Channi said the Poonch attack was a pre-election stunt by the BJP to ensure its victory ahead of the LS poll. The party had been indulging in such stunts ahead of the elections.

One IAF official was killed and four were injured when an IAF convoy was targeted at Sanai village in Surankote on Saturday

Comparing the incident with 2019 Pulwama attack which claimed 40 CRPF personnel, Channi said, “"These attacks are not really happening but just meant to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party. Whenever elections
take place, such stunts are played like it happened last time,” Times of India quoted him as saying.

“These are all stunts and not terrorist attacks. There is no truth in it. BJP is playing with the lives of people and bodies,” he added.

Channi’s comments drew widespread criticism from BJP leaders across the country and was even termed it ‘treason’ by Jammu and Kashmir’s former Deputy CM Nirmal Singh.

Union minister Anurag Thakur said it portrayed Congress’ dirty mentality. It had always worked to weaken the defence forces.

“These are people who, instead of providing them with weapons, bulletproof jackets or fighter planes, chose to act as middlemen for 10 years. On the other hand, the Modi government strongly responded with surgical and air strikes. The Congress handed tickets to members of ‘tukde tukde gang’. It’s policies are aimed at weakening the armed forces,” said Thakur.