'Gabbars of India': BJP on Revanth Reddy's Rafale 'shot down' claim
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra
NEW DELHI:
Telangana chief minister
A
Revanth Reddy
's remarks on
Operation Sindoor
triggered a political back-and-forth from the ruling party. Calling Telangana CM, Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and Jairam Ramesh "Saboot gang," the
Bharatiya Janata Party
said that they have tried to lower the morale of the Indian Army.
Reddy's questions on how many Rafale aircraft were shot down, which the Indian Air Force has not officially confirmed, has prompted strong reaction from BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra who said that those who are Babbar in Pakistan are Gabbar in India and the condition of Gabbar will be same as in the movie Sholay Jay and Veeru did with the antagonist.
"Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Revanth Reddy are asking how many Rafales were shot down. 'Yeh jo Pakistan ke Babbar hain, woh Hindustan ke Gabbar hain' "These people who are 'Babbars' of Pakistan are the 'Gabbars' of India) Tell us, how many Rafales were shot down? These 'Babbars' of Pakistan are the 'Gabbars' of India. And remember, to the Gabbars of India — you will meet the same fate as Gabbar did at the hands of Jai and Veeru (from the movie
Sholay
).
Because of India's Jai and India's bravery, Gabbar's defeat is certain. Rahul Gandhi did not ask how many Pakistani airbases were destroyed, how many terrorists were killed; rather, he only asked how many Indian planes were shot down," he said during the presser.
"Today, there are two factions in Congress - one which supports Pakistan and the other which wants to raise voice for the country but is unable to do so because of you.
Your 'Jai Hind Yatra' looks like 'Pakistan's Hind Yatra' and you should stop this yatra and hold a joint press conference with Pakistan..." he added.
Reddy, speaking at a rally, raised questions about the recent escalation with Pakistan and the government's decision-making during the conflict and said, "The soldiers of this (Secunderabad ) Cantonment participated in the war. The war planes being manufactured in Telangana upheld respect for our country.
Rafale aircraft brought by Narendra Modi were shot down by Pakistan. There is no discussion on how many Rafales were shot down.
Narendra Modi should answer how many Rafale aircraft were shot down by Pakistan during the recent war. You give us the account."
LIVE: BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Sambit Patra addresses press conference at BJP HQ, New Delhi.
The BJP spokesperson Patra also raised the question on Jairam Ramesh's remarks and said that he compared terrorists and our MPs, who are part of India's delegations abroad, is the same breath.
Yesterday, Jairam Ramesh, while talking to ANI said that the MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming.
"This 'saboot gang' is not happy over what India has done. Yesterday, Jairam Ramesh compared terrorists and our MPs, who are part of India's delegations abroad, is the same breath," Sambit Patra said in a press conference.
Reddy's remarks echo Pakistan's narrative on Rafale and Operation Sindoor
The BJP launched a strong rebuttal to Reddy's comments, criticising him and the
Congress Party
for allegedly disrespecting the defence forces.
The BJP Telangana unit's official handle posted, "Chief Minister Revanth Reddy didn't just echo Pakistan's narrative on Rafale and Operation Sindoor - he went a step further, calling it 'Mana Pakistan' (Our Pakistan). From questioning Surgical Strikes and Balakot to mocking our armed forces and opposing Agnipath - standing against is in Congress's DNA. Stick to Miss World photo ops, Revanth. National security isn't your ramp.
When the nation wins, Congress sulks."
BJP IT cell head Amit Malaviya also slammed Reddy for his remarks and said that the Congress sound more like Pakistan's PR team than India's opposition.
He also said that their questions on military's success is almost like the questions Pakistan would love to ask. Whether by ignorance or design, the Congress playing right into enemy hands and they're doing a splendid job at it, Malaviya said in a post on X.
"After Rahul Gandhi, now Telangana Chief Minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy asks — 'How many Rafale jets did Pakistan shoot down?' It is honestly astonishing how out of depth these leaders are when it comes to matters of national security. If Pakistan had actually shot down a Rafale, there would be clear evidence — satellite imagery, wreckage, international confirmation — just like we have proof of the damage we inflicted on their airbases and terror camps.
But instead of standing with our armed forces, Congress leaders seem to be sourcing their 'intel' from WhatsApp forwards, social media speculation, or worse — their imagination. They sound more like Pakistan's PR team than India's opposition. And while they question our military's success, not one of them has asked — how many Pakistani jets have we taken out, including those parked at their bases during operations? That silence is telling.
It is almost like the questions Pakistan would love to ask are now being asked — conveniently — by the Congress party. Whether by ignorance or design, they're playing right into enemy hands. And they're doing a splendid job at it," he said.
Union Minister and BJP senior leader G Kishan Reddy expressed strong disapproval of the Telangana Chief Minister's statements, highlighting what he described as Congress's consistent pattern of undermining military operations and national security initiatives.
"Congress - From their leader Rahul Gandhi to their CM Revanth Reddy are demeaning our brave armed forces day in and day out. Not the first time Congress and its leaders are resorting to cheap and dirty politics, not the first time they have questioned and doubted the surgical strikes, not the first time they are demoralizing our armed forces, not the first time they are speaking the enemy language. Who is the Congress loyal to Bharat or ?," he stated.
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