"Hafiz Saeed likes Rahul, now we know why": BJP's Sambit Patra

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 20 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra on Tuesday targeted Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi Mallikarjun Kharge over their remarks concerning conflict with Pakistan and alleged that Islamabad had shown videos of remarks of Congress leaders in the wake of Operation Sindoor and that the comments of the leaders of opposition party provide "oxygen to Pakistan".
He said Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, who is chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah, had during an interview praised Congress and said it is a good party.
"You do the work of giving oxygen to Pakistan...Today, we all know why Hafiz likes Rahul (Gandhi)...Congress party, Kharge ji is saying that Operation Sindoor is a small war...Are Rahul Gandhi and Khargeji not able to understand that our Armed Forces entered Pakistan and struck nine terror sites there, and more than 100 terrorists were killed? After retaliation by Pakistan, their 11 airbases were destroyed, and today, Pakistan is crying in pain. And you are saying that Operation Sindoor was a small war. This is cheating the country and the bravery of the Armed Forces. Rahul Gandhiji has been asking for proof for the last two days. We have been presenting digital proofs since day one. There is evidence from Pakistan (of burial of terrorists, attended by Pakistan army officers)," Patra told ANI.
"Despite this, you are asking for proof of the courage of the Armed Forces. This is the reason Rahul Gandhi and his leaders have become poster boys in Pakistan. At the time of Operation Sindoor, Pak DGMO had shown your (Rahul Gandhi) videos...You do the work of giving oxygen to Pakistan. Hafiz likes Rahul and today we all know why Hafiz (terrorist Hafiz Saeed) likes Rahul ," he added.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in which precision strikes destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and eliminated nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases in Pakistan.
On May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced.
Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticised the Modi government for alleged security lapses that led to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.
Kharge, who was addressing a rally in Karnataka, alleged that the government failed to provide adequate security arrangements for tourists, despite being aware of potential security threats.
"Twenty six people were killed in Pahalgam because the Modi government did not provide security there. The centre did not provide police security or forces to tourists. Modi did not say anything about this. There were people going to Kashmir on the 17th, but PM Modi did not go to Kashmir, because his intelligence security told him not to go...." He alleged that the government's intelligence agencies had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the security threat, but no action was taken to warn tourists.
Kharge condemned the government's priorities, stating that the Prime Minister's security was prioritised over the lives of citizens. "You knew this. When you cancelled the trip to Kashmir, why did you not tell the tourists through the police? Why didn't you tell the tourists not to go there? If you had told them, 26 lives would have been saved. Pakistan has no power. It is weak; they have taken power from China and attacked our country. I had told you on the 22nd that we are all united," he said.
(ANI)