As India marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Saturday reiterated his longstanding criticism of the 1999 Kargil conflict, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has “no right” to celebrate the day due to what he described as an intelligence failure at the time.
Speaking to the media agency, Alvi targeted the then BJP-led government, claiming that Indian intelligence agencies were unaware of Pakistan’s intrusion into Kargil and that the breach was only discovered when a local shepherd alerted authorities.
He argued that this lapse undermines the BJP’s claim to celebrate the victory.
“This statement of mine is 24-25 years old, which is dug up every year by BJP leaders, and I clarify it every year,” Alvi said.
“Our armed forces did a wonderful job in Kargil; the army is praiseworthy. The whole country has the right to celebrate this victory, but the BJP has no right to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas. It was the BJP government — the BJP PM (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was having dinner in Lahore, and the Pakistani army was hiding inside Kargil. The government did not even know that Pakistan had entered our home. A shepherd from Ladakh informed the government about this.”
Questioning the BJP over accountability for the casualties suffered, Alvi said, “No intelligence of the Indian government had this information, a shepherd gave this information, then Kargil happened, our 545 soldiers were killed, 1,500 soldiers were injured. Who is responsible for this? If our government had known earlier, if the government’s intelligence had been working, then our 545 soldiers would not have been killed. BJP will have to answer who is responsible for the martyrdom of our soldiers… What right do you (BJP) have to celebrate Vijay Diwas?”
He further pointed to a committee formed by the Vajpayee government to examine the conflict. “I want to ask one more thing from the BJP leaders. Atal ji’s government had formed a committee at that time. The chairman of that committee was the present EAM’s father. Read his report too, What all did he say to the government? What shortcomings did he point out, and what recommendations did he give? BJP should be ashamed of the things on which they are accusing us,” Alvi said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari criticised the Congress party for its stance, alleging that it had “refused to honour” Kargil Vijay Diwas from 2004 to 2009.
Citing Alvi’s earlier remark that “Kargil isn’t a thing to celebrate,” Bhandari accused the Congress of putting its political interests above the bravery of Indian soldiers.
In a post on X, Bhandari wrote, “Our Nation should never forget: From 2004 to 2009, the Congress Party refused to honour Kargil Vijay Diwas. Congress leader Rashid Alvi shamelessly said, ‘Kargil isn’t a thing to celebrate.’ For Congress, the valour of Indian soldiers was secondary to their political insecurities.
They saw Kargil as the BJP’s victory, not India’s. The nation salutes our bravehearts. But Rahul Gandhi’s Congress chose silence over sacrifice. Congress Party has always been against India’s National interest!”
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