Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 4 (ANI): Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam condemned Congress leader Charanjit Singh's statement on doubts over the 2019 air strike conducted by the Indian armed forces in response to the Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF soldiers.

'Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi stands with terrorists, separatists,' Krishnam said, adding, 'It is very unfortunate that a former CM of Punjab questions the Indian Army and India's valour. The question is not about Narendra Modi, the BJP, or the Congress; the question is about India's existence and identity. This is a fight for India's existence...', Acharya Krishnam told ANI on Sunday.

The former Congress member further accused Rahul Gandhi of 'attacking' PM Modi and simultaneously asking Congress leaders to 'support Pakistan internally'.

'It is part of Rahul Gandhi's strategy that he says he stands with the government, with the country and asks his leaders to attack the government, PM Modi, and support Pakistan internally...,' he stated.

On Friday, former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi stoked controversy by demanding proof of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan territory in the past under the BJP government in the centre. Casting doubts over the strikes, the former Punjab CM said that he has always demanded proof.

'To date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know...I have always demanded (proof).' Channi said at a press conference.

Responding to Channi's remarks, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the Congress leader's comments reflect the 'dirty mentality of the Gandhi family'.

'Congress has again raised questions on the Indian Air Force. Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has once again said that he does not believe in the surgical strike, and he wants proof of the surgical strike. What kind of mentality is this of the Congress party, the Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, that they keep questioning the army, the Indian Air Force?' Sirsa said. (ANI)