Toy Rafale Jet With Lemon And Chilly: UP Congress Chief's Unique Criticism Of Centre
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Ajay Rai's criticism of the Centre was sparked by the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 people and a local pony ride operator.
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai on Sunday uniquely criticised the centre, holding up a 'toy plane', labelled as 'Rafale' with lemon and chillies dangling from it.
He mocked the BJP-led central government, claiming that although Rafale jets were brought from abroad, they remain parked in hangars with chillies and lemons hanging from them.
Rai's criticism of the Centre was sparked by the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 people and a local pony ride operator. He accused the government of failing to deploy its defence resources effectively against terrorism and those behind such conspiracies.
'Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering from it. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. But, this government, which talks a lot, says that they will crush terrorists — they brought Rafale, but they are in their hangars having chilly and lemon hanging in them. When will they take action against terrorists, those who support them, and their backers?" Rai told news agency ANI.
The Congress leader's remarks come in the backdrop of India's recent defence deal—a Rs 63,000 crore agreement with France for 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets. Signed earlier this week, the deal aims to bolster India's naval strike capabilities.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
Terrorists sprayed bullets on dozens of tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, killing at least 26, in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the terror attack.
The attack prompted India to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Pakistan on all fronts. New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and recently banned all imports from Islamabad.
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