On Pulwama attack’s anniversary, Rahul Gandhi asks ‘who benefited most’; BJP calls him ‘LeT, JeM sympathiser’

After Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, BJP slammed the Congress leader calling him a “known sympathiser of LeT, JeM.” “Rahul Gandhi chooses to target not just govt, but security forces as well. Such comments help Pakistan counter India on the international platform and are an insult to martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.”

In one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces, about 44 CRPF personnel were killed when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed one of the buses carrying the forces from Jammu to Srinagar on February 14. Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed responsibility for the attack. In response to the attack, India launched airstrikes at JeM training camps in Balakot before dawn on February 26.

Gandhi’s tweet was in apparent reference to how after the attack, the BJP build a political narrative around patriotism and capitalized on it during the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country will never forget the sacrifice of the 40 CRPF personnel in the Pulwama attack. “Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom,” tweeted Modi.

On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency filed a chargesheet against four JeM aides of Pulwama attack mastermind, in a case of conspiring for terror acts across the country.