Nishikant leads charge against Rahul after his Op Sindoor comments, accuses Gandhi family of ‘deshdroh'
The political storm erupted after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey launched a blistering attack on the Congress party. 'The Congress, in 1991, supported the Chandrashekhar government that backed the pact. Later, the Congress-led Narasimha Rao government in 1994 implemented the pact requiring India to share army, navy and air force movement details with Pakistan. This is treason, and those responsible must face trial,' he said.
Chandrashekhar's son, Neeraj Shekhar, is currently a BJP leader, and the Narendra Modi-led government also conferred the Bharat Ratna on Narasimha Rao last year, but the BJP is trying to make a larger argument by harking back to the agreement.
New Delhi: An India-Pakistan agreement about sharing information about military movement — signed by the Chandrashekhar-led government in 1991 and enforced by the Narasimha Rao-led government in 1994 — has become the center of a fresh political row, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party terming the agreement as 'deshdroh' or treason.
The BJP parliamentarian escalated his charges, stating, 'Congress compromised national security for vote bank politics … severed India's strategic autonomy. Isn't sharing military deployment plans with Pakistan treason? We demand treason charges against those behind this agreement—an FIR against the Congress party.'
Speaking to the media Friday, Nishikant Dubey, a part of the Sindoor outreach delegation, directly challenged Rahul Gandhi: 'Congress has always been complicit in Pakistani interests. How then can you question Foreign Minister Jaishankar's integrity?'
Nishikant Dubey was referring to a controversy that originated last week when Rahul Gandhi accused External Affairs Minister Jaishankar of leaking the details of Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory military action after the Pahalgam terror attack, to Pakistan.
Dubbing Jaishankar as 'JJ', Rahul Gandhi had said: 'Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why did not a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to 'mediate' between India & Pakistan? India's foreign policy has collapsed.'
In response to Dubey's allegations, Congress leaders mounted a vigorous defence. Spokesperson Pawan Khera said, 'Dubey seems unaware that Congress withdrew support from the Chandrashekhar government in February 1991, before the 6 April 1991 agreement. The 10th Lok Sabha elections had already been announced. For accurate information, he should consult his party colleague Neeraj Shekhar.'
Nishikant Dubey countered, saying the agreement was ratified in August 1992 under Congress rule, but Pawan Khera rebutted: 'This pact specifically governs peacetime military exercises, explicitly mentioning 'training maneuvers' and 'routine troop movements'—not operations or war details. The real question is why Modi government informed Pakistan about Operation Sindoor in advance? What were the ceasefire terms?'
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate similarly wrote on X, 'Well, this time, while showing its ignorance, BJP has accepted that Foreign Minister Jaishankar gave advance information to Pakistan about the attack of our army. The agreement whose details Degree Dubey is giving was for peacetime—not for spying in case of war. And lastly, Rajiv Gandhi had withdrawn his support from Chandrashekhar's government on 6 March 1991. This agreement is dated 6 April 1991.'
Attack on policy decisions
Digging into the Congress's historical Pakistan policy decisions, Nishikant Dubey shared documents on X Saturday, alleging: 'After winning the 1965 war, the party gave away 828 sq km of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Pakistan in 1968. We took the India-Pakistan issue to the international forum, [and] appointed Yugoslavia's lawyer Ali Babar as a mediator.'
'The entire Parliament opposed it. But Indira Gandhi was the Iron Lady; she auctioned our share out of fear. This is the truth of the Iron Lady. Congress's hand is always with Pakistan,' Nishikant Dubey added in the post.
On X, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya named Operation Brasstacks (1986-87), accusing Rajiv Gandhi of compromising India's security.
Sharing a clipping of an India Today article, Amit Malviya stated: 'In 1986–87, General K. Sundarji, one of India's most visionary military leaders, launched Operation Brasstacks, a massive four-phase military exercise near the Rajasthan-Pakistan border. Designed to test mobile warfare, agility, and mechanisation, the operation involved nearly 500,000 troops.'
Amit Malviya wrote that India formally informed Pakistan about the operation, and PM Rajiv Gandhi assured the then-PM of Pakistan Junejo that it was 'just an exercise'. However, Pakistan moved offensive troops right up to Indian Punjab's border, while 'Khalistani extremists' announced a separatist movement, and India stood on the brink of civil unrest.
Rajiv Gandhi 'finally' deployed troops but soon backtracked on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's request, Amit Malviya wrote, adding that Gandhi later blamed General Sunderji and then-MoS for Defence Arun Singh for the missteps, claiming he was 'in the dark'. He also invited Zia-ul-Haq to a cricket match in India, and 'the appeasement culminated in the 1988 Indo-Pak agreement to avoid attacks on each other's nuclear facilities, fulfilling what Zia had started'.
Circling back to the point the BJP is trying to make, Amit Malviya added: 'This is the Gandhi legacy on national security—flip-flops, appeasement, and scapegoats … Before lecturing the nation on military operations like Operation Sindoor, Rahul Gandhi should revisit how his family repeatedly compromised India's strategic interests—all for diplomacy dressed as surrender.'
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: Why BJP is playing role of Oppn in Parliament, raising Soros 'link' to corner Congress
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
All-party parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor wraps up U.S. visit
A multi-party parliamentary delegation wrapped up its visit to the U.S. after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau among political and diplomatic leaders, to drive home India's strong resolve to combat terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was on the last leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor that India launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The delegation was one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. The group arrived in the U.S. capital on June 3 and over the course of three days held a wide array of meetings on Capitol Hill as well as in Washington, briefing American government officials as well as lawmakers about India's stance on cross-border terrorism. The Indian team met Vice President Vance, Mr. Landau, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) leadership, India Caucus leadership and Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders. It also held meetings and interactions with a host of U.S. Congressmen, think tanks, policy experts, media as well as members of the Indian-American community. Mr. Tharoor described the meeting with Mr. Vance at the White House for about 25 minutes on Thursday (June 5, 2025) as 'an excellent meeting,' and said the Vice President was 'warm and welcoming and receptive.' 'Mr. Vance expressed complete understanding, first of all, outrage of what happened in Pahalgam and support and respect for India's restrained response in Operation Sindoor,' Mr. Tharoor told PTI after that meeting. After the delegation met Mr. Landau on Friday (June 6, 2025), a statement by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the Deputy Secretary of State 'reaffirmed the United States' strong support of India in the fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the two countries.' 'We discussed the U.S.-India strategic relationship, including expanding trade and commercial ties to foster growth and prosperity for both countries,' Mr. Landau said. The Indian Embassy said in a statement that during the meeting with Mr. Landau, the delegation briefed him on the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, discussed India's subsequent Operation Sindoor, and put forth India's firm resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in all its forms. In a post on X on Sunday (June 8, 2025), Mr. Tharoor wrote in Hindi, "On behalf of all the members, I express my gratitude to the motherland and the lovers of India in the country and abroad who listened with open ears and accepted with open heart that we are lovers of non-violence but only until someone... Jai Hind". सौ बार जन्म लेंगे तो सौ बार करेंगे जी भर के अपने वतन से प्यार करेंगे जो हम से बन पड़ा, "अ वतन" हमने किया है जो सच था, सारी दुनिया ने अब जान लिया है समस्त सदस्यों की तरफ से मातृभूमि का और देश विदेश में हिंदुस्तान प्रेमियों का बहुत-बहुत आभार जिन्होंने कान खोल कर सुना और दिल खोल कर… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 8, 2025 On the last day of the delegation's scheduled meetings, the delegation paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue opposite the Indian Embassy here. 'It is striking how many world capitals are adorned with statues or busts of the Mahatma, the 20th century's greatest apostle of peace, nonviolence, and human freedom,' Mr. Tharoor posted on X afterwards. The team, which had arrived from India in New York on May 24, had travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before arriving in Washington for the last leg of the tour. The other members of the delegation were Sarfaraz Ahmad (JMM), Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and India's former Ambassador to the U.S. Taranjit Sandhu. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Reservation is our right': VIP chief Mukesh Sahani launches poll song, targets BJP on quota cap; ahead of Bihar elections
'Reservation is our right': VIP chief Mukesh Sahani launches poll song, targets BJP on quota cap PATNA: As the political parties are gearing up for the assembly election in Bihar due in October-November this year, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) of Mukesh Sahani on Sunday launched its poll song, 'Hai Haq Hamara Aarakshan'. Sahani said this is not just a song, but the roar of his Nishad community. "It is the echo of every voice that is fighting for equality and rights. Reservation is our right and we will get it," Sahani said. He also said till BJP is in power, the scope of reservation for backward and SC people cannot increase above 50%. "Only when the INDI Alliance forms govt, people of all sections will get participation as per their population," he said. When asked about the comment of Krishna Allavaru, the Congress in charge of Bihar, regarding the CM face, Mukesh Sahani said everything is clear. "When someone makes a claim then there will be a dispute. If Congress talks about its CM candidate, then discussion on that is also possible," he said. Sahani said the CM face will also be declared soon. On LJP (Ram Vilas) president and union minister Chirag Paswan's announcement to contest all 243 seats in Bihar to ensure NDA win strongly, Sahani took a dig at him and wished him to contest the elections himself. "Chirag had contested 135 seats earlier also. You are the son of Ram Vilas Paswan. A lion's cubs are not like this. If you have courage then fight against everyone, why only against Nitish Kumar?" Sahani said and questioned Chirag's leadership quality. The VIP founder also said his party's fight is only on the issue of reservation and for that he will enter the electoral fray. He said the people of Bihar should not be fooled, but should talk directly about who will contest from where.
Hindustan Times
44 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
NIA to probe ex-Bajrang Dal leader's murder in Karnataka
The Centre has handed over the probe into the murder of former Bajrang Dal member Suhas Shetty in Karnataka last month to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), officials aware of the matter said on Sunday. The ministry of home affairs (MHA), in its notification dated June 7, ordered the central agency to investigate the case, citing implications on national security and the need to uncover a larger conspiracy. 'The Central Government is of the opinion that a Scheduled Offence under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, has been committed... and it is required to be investigated by the National Investigation Agency in accordance with the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008,' the notification said. According to police, Suhas was travelling with five of his associates near Kinnikambla in Bajpe area of Mangaluru on the night of May 1 when their vehicle was intercepted by five-six assailants, who then dragged the 30-year-old out of the vehicle and hacked him to death. The incident triggered communal tensions in the region, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). So far, twelve people have been arrested in connection with Shetty's murder. The Centre's decision comes a month after the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka demanded an NIA inquiry into the incident, with the party accusing the Congress-led state government of 'going soft' on the issue. 'Why is the Congress government unwilling to hand over the case to the NIA? What are they afraid of?' BJP lawmaker Captain Brijesh Chowta said on May 5, after the Congress dismissed the murder as a case of personal rivalry. When asked about NIA taking over the probe, chief minister Siddaramaiah, on Sunday, said, 'I have asked DG and IGP MA Saleem to seek legal advice from the advocate general.' In its notification, the MHA said that the murder appeared to be a targeted killing carried out in public to create fear, allegedly by members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI). 'In this case, sections 10 r/w 41, 13, 15, 17, 18 & 20 of UA(P) Act, 1967 are attracted, as it is related to targeted killing of an individual in public view with the intention to create terror in the minds of people and the accused persons involved in the case are allegedly members of Popular Front of India (PFI), an unlawful association,' the order read.
