A day after sparking controversy by presenting a toy model of a Rafale fighter jet adorned with lemons and chillies, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai reiterated his criticism of the central government on Monday. Rai said the symbolic act was a reflection of the public's growing frustration over the lack of action against those responsible for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
"I'm just asking when Rafale will do its job," Rai stated, asserting that the Congress supports the government on national security issues but expects decisive action. He emphasised that if the government fails to act, it is natural for the public and opposition leaders to question and criticise its inaction.
On Sunday, Rai had condemned the Centre’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, accusing it of indulging in "big talk and no action." He claimed that the Rafale fighter jets, purchased for national defence, were simply gathering dust in hangars with lemon and chilli talismans tied to them—a reference to traditional Indian superstitions used to ward off evil.
"It is time to give a fitting reply to those who killed our people in Pahalgam," Rai said. "When the Defence Minister went to receive the Rafale jets, he had lemon-chillies hung on them. I just wanted to show that the people of India expect real action, not symbolism. The terrorists and their supporters must be dealt with in the strongest possible way."
Rai went on to accuse senior leaders in power—Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh—of misleading the nation. He said that while the grief of the victims' families has faded into silence, the government has yet to deliver justice.
He reiterated that Congress stands fully behind the government when it comes to taking action against Pakistan and its alleged role in cross-border terrorism, but criticised the government for failing to take such steps.
Citing the 2019 Pulwama attack, Rai questioned the absence of a public report on the origin of the RDX used in the blast and who was responsible for the explosion. "Even after all these years, the country still doesn’t have those answers," he said.
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Rai’s comments triggered sharp criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala responded on social media, claiming that Rai’s remarks had made headlines in Pakistan. “Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Ajay Rai has now managed to make it to the headlines of Pakistan thanks to his utterances and antics on Rafale,” he posted on X.
Poonawala also alleged that Rai's comments undermined the morale of India’s armed forces. “Channi, Priyank Kharge, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, Ajay Rai — this is not a coincidence, but a collaboration with Pakistan,” he wrote, accusing opposition leaders of playing into the hands of hostile forces.
BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari also took to X, stating, “Rahul Gandhi's close aide Ajay Rai mocks our forces! Congress has become the Pakistani Congress and the spokesperson of Asif Munir's Pakistan in India!”
Amid the controversy, Rai also addressed the upcoming hearing in the Allahabad High Court concerning the citizenship of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. He defended the former Congress president, stating, "Rahul Gandhi is the son of this soil. His family has made the ultimate sacrifices for the nation. He does not need a certificate of patriotism from anyone."
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