Rahul Gandhi "giving oxygen to Pakistan": BJP's Sambit Patra slams Congress leader over Op Sindoor remarks

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 20 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of "giving oxygen to Pakistan" and alleging that Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) used his statements to claim India was lying during Operation Sindoor.
Patra claimed that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistani officials showcased remarks made by Indian opposition leaders to undermine India's narrative and question the operation's legitimacy.
He said such statements from Congress leaders lower the morale of the Army and benefit Pakistan's propoganda.
Speaking to ANI, Sambit Patra said, "Rahul Gandhi has been asking for proof for two days. Today, the whole world and even Pakistan itself are providing evidence. We have kept digital evidence. Evidence upon evidence is being presented. The Pakistanis themselves have shown the dead bodies of their terrorists. The terrorists themselves were seen standing to bury the terrorists. Despite the fact that the whole world has seen this evidence, you are still asking for proof of the indomitable courage of the army."
Patra went on to say that this is why Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders are viewed as "poster boys of Pakistan."
"This is the reason why today, Rahul Gandhi, you and your leaders remain the poster boys of Pakistan. Is this not true? After 26/11, you were forming a party, which was written in all the newspapers. We saw it in the newspapers. And that's probably why you see Operation Sindoor as a small battle," he alleged.
He also took aim at Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying, "Your leader, Pawan Khera, says that Operation Vermilion is a deal of vermilion, just like you said, blood was pouring from the top of our sisters' foreheads. There are twenty-six sisters whose demands have been listened to, and even after that, calling it a vermilion deal, calling it a small battle, and saying "we need proof" shows what your mindset is. You do not trust the country. And that is why, in every press conference of yours today, all of Pakistan is showing interest."
Patra added that Rahul Gandhi does not trust the country, and that's why Pakistan closely follows every press conference he holds. "Pakistan watches your words because they benefit from them," he said.
"You are the hero of Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi, you and your leaders are heroes of Pakistan today. You are running on every news channel, and not just today. Even at the time when Operation Sindoor took place, the DGMO of Pakistan showed your statements in a press conference, showed the statements of your leaders, and said, What we Pakistanis are saying is true, India is lying. You do the work of giving oxygen to Pakistan, and perhaps that is why there is no doubt about this. There is no doubt," Patra said.
"Hafiz Saeed, a notorious terrorist, once said in an interview that Congress is a good party. Hafiz likes Rahul, and today, we all know why Hafiz (terrorist Hafiz Saeed) likes Rahul," he added.
His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi accused External Affairs Minister Jaishankar of being silent on how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost during Operation Sindoor. (ANI)