BJP Attacks Mamata for Questioning if Another “Pahalgam-type” Attack Likely before Elections!
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 6: Even as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi teared into the Congress for the alleged “betrayal” of the people of India, the BJP launched a frontal attack on the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her raising a shocking question if the ruling party at the Centre had a “blueprint ready” for another Pahalgam-type attack!
Responding sharply to Ms Banerjee’s question, the BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, “WB CM Mamata Banerjee calls the barbaric Pahalgam Terror Attack a script, blueprint! TMC to appease vote bank went to the extent of calling Pahalgam a script in which innocent Hindus were killed by Pak terrorists. Anti Hindu TMC,” he said in a post on X.
Mr Bhandari’s response was to Ms Banerjee’s reference to the Pahalgam terror attack in which she questioned if the BJP had a “blueprint ready” for “another Pahalgam attack before the election.” Addressing a public meeting at Bethuadahari in Nadia district, Banerjee also referred to Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s threat to hit Kolkata and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed a rally in north Bengal’s Coochbehar on Sunday did not respond to the threat.
“Pakistan’s defence minister said they will target Kolkata. Why didn’t Narendra Modi say we will take strong action? What is the reason? blueprint ready? Another Pahalgam before the election?” she said. Banerjee also warned that if Delhi targets Bengal’s people, Bengal will hit back. “If someone talks about targeting Kolkata, we as Indian citizens will not tolerate it. You sit quietly. Aren’t you ashamed? You must resign,” she said referring to the Prime Minister.
On April 22 last year, terrorists killed 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator at Baisaran Valley, a popular attraction in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. According to eyewitnesses, the Pakistan-backed terrorists approached the men, asked them their names and religion, and shot them in cold blood in front of their families.
The chilling attack shocked the nation and prompted the Centre to launch Operation Sindoor in May last year to avenge the attack. India targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan territory. When Pakistan responded by hitting India’s civilian areas, New Delhi hit Pakistan’s military installations. A ceasefire was announced on May 10, three days after the operation began, at Pakistan’s request.
In Delhi, Mr Modi in a message on the occasion of the BJP’s Foundation Day on Monday, lambasted the Congress saying it had betrayed the people of India after getting record seats in 1984. However, the BJP was continuously working for the development of the country, he said, while adding that the Congress only worked for one family, referring to the Gandhis.
In a virtual message on BJP’s foundation day, the prime minister said BJP workers have always raised issues related to the public and have even scarified their lives since its formation in 1980. People’s trust in the BJP has subsequently increased, he said, while pointing out that the saffron party would keep working over issues such as infiltration and corruption.
“BJP is the only political party where we consider the party as our mother,” he said. “That is why the party’s foundation day is not just a political event. It is an emotional occasion for every karyakarta. This day gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude to the party for giving us the chance to serve the nation.”
He said the BJP has revoked Article 370, brought law against triple talaq, enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which at one point of time seemed impossible, adding that it would soon bring the ‘One Nation, One Election’ and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
He further said earlier India used to keep a distance from many nations, but today’s India builds relations with all countries. In his address, the prime minister also lauded BJP national president Nitin Nabin and said the party is moving ahead with a ‘new energy’ under his leadership for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the union territory (UT) of Puducherry.
“Our goal is to build a developed India, a self-reliant India, and we will continue to work selflessly to achieve this goal,” PM Modi said. “In a few years, the BJP is going to complete its fifty years. This is a huge milestone, a huge inspiration. We have to brainstorm new goals and also immerse ourselves in this era of changing technology. Once again, I extend my best wishes to my crores of workers on the BJP Foundation Day,” he added.
