Congress leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday said the Poonch militant attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy, in which a corporal was killed and four personnel were injured, was an “election stunt” to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

His remarks drew ire from the BJP, which accused the Congress of being disrespectful to soldiers and demanded an apology to the nation.

Referring to Saturday’s attack in Poonch, Channi, who is the Congress candidate from Jalandhar, told reporters, “Yeh stuntbaazi ho rahi hai, hamle nahin ho rahen. Pichhli baar bhi jab election aate hain to aise stunt khele jate hain aur BJP ko jitane ka savindhan taiyar kiya jata hai (These are all stunts, not terrorist attacks. In the last elections, such stunts were carried out to make the BJP win).”

Also Read: Terrorists open fire on two security vehicles in J&K’s Poonch, 5 soldiers injured

“Yeh taiyar kiye huye… saare pehle se taiyar karke hamle karvaye jaate hain. Ye BJP ko jitane ka ek stunt hota, isme sacchai nahin hoti. Log marvana aur unki lashon par khelna BJP ka kaam hai. (These attacks are planned in advance and carried out. This is a stunt to make the BJP win, there is no truth in it. Getting people killed and playing politics over their bodies is what the BJP does),” said Channi while campaigning in Jalandhar from where he is contesting.

Channi has drawn a parallel with the Pulwama attack of 2019 in which 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) men died, and alleged that Saturday’s attack was also a “stunt” to help the BJP win.

In Patna, Tej Pratap Yadav made remarks on similar lines. “Whenever elections come, Pulwama and terrorist attacks take place,” he said.

Their remarks have drawn fire from BJP leaders. Union minister Anurag Thakur said, “This is a poor statement. This reflects their mentality.”

Also Read: Political parties across party lines condemn ‘cowardly’ terror attack in Poonch

“Instead of strengthening the army, they did brokerage for 10 years… After Pulwama we did surgical strike. These people held a hearing at 2:30 pm to stop the hanging of the Parliament attack accused… People will not forget that 1000 km has been taken away – the area of Aksai Chin… a part has been taken by Sri Lanka,” he added.

Punjab leader Sunil Jakhar, who is among those who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP, also slammed the comment of Channi. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said, “Ghastly statement by CWC member Channi belittling the valour of our brave soldiers is no less a crime and an insult to nation. Channi’s shameful statement on the attack on our Air Force personnel in Poonch calling their valour as a stunt shows the bankruptcy and frustration of Channi. The nation will not forgive him.”

In Saturday’s terror attack on two IAF vehicles in the Bakrabal (Sanai) area of Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, Corporal Vikky Pahade of the Indian Air Force was killed and four other soldiers injured.