Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacks Congress for sympathizing with Pakistan post terror attacks

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party accusing them of sympathizing with Pakistan after the Pulwama attack and aerial strikes that claimed the lives of several Indian soldiers.

"While the security forces are cracking down on terrorists and their sponsors; the Congress and its supporters are left "screaming". Is it a coincidence or a jugalabandi? (partnership)," Naqvi said in a tweet accusing Congress of colluding with Pakistan.

He further accused the Congress of raising questions on national security.

"Congress has become 'Flop Show' of 'PVR' (Priyanka, Vadra, Rahul). Raising questions on national security and creating ruckus on development of their own areas; Congress leaders are trying to act on a 'Flop and Expired Script'….," he said

Earlier today, citing international media reports of "no proof of militants being killed at Balakot", Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday questioned BJP leaders how they could zero down on specific number of terrorists killed there and asked them not play politics with terror keeping Lok Sabha elections in mind.

"Your (BJP) ministers are saying '300 people have been killed', '400 people have been killed'. Where did they get this information from or is it with a particular thought in mind that the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner, so they have to say that 'x' number of people have been killed?" said Sibal while speaking to ANI.

Sibal's statement comes a day after Amit Shah said that over 250 terrorists were killed in the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) against a terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot, Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, recently accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stealing 30,000 crores from the Indian Air Force and giving it to Anil Ambani who owns Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited (RNEL). He also accused the prime minister of granting outdated jets to the pilots.

His remark came after a MiG 21 being piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was shot down after it crossed over to the Pakistani side while chasing Pakistani F-16 fighters, which had transgressed into the Indian airspace. Although he ejected safely, the pilot was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army upon landing.

On February 28, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of Abhinandan on March 1, calling his decision a "peace gesture."

Tension spiralled between India and Pakistan after the Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out a strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror training camp in Balakot.

The strike was in response to the terror attack in Pulwama in which about 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. JeM had claimed the responsibility of the attack.