BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Sunday attacked the Congress for allegedly claiming that Balakot-like air strikes were carried out even under the Congress government in the past. To support his attack on the Congress, the controversial BJP spokesperson also posted a screenshot of unverified comments before attributing them to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Patra wrote, “Now this is what the Air strikes have done to the Congress.. Hahaha .. According to the Congress,many such Air strikes were carried out during UPA regime but they didn’t even disclose it to the Indian Air Force.. Hahaha ..”
Now this is what the Air strikes have done to the Congress..
Hahaha ..
According to the Congress,many such Air strikes were carried out during UPA regime but they didn’t even disclose it to the Indian Air Force..
Hahaha .. pic.twitter.com/g64ntqI6t2— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) March 3, 2019
The screenshot used by Patra appeared to have been taken from the comments section of a news website. The comments being attributed to Surjewala read, “In the meantime Randeep Surjewala, Congress spokesperson, has issued a statement that this type of air strikes where (sic) carried out many times earlier also, but we didn’t disclose it to anyone, not even to Indian Air Force.” The comments above, replete with grammatical errors, were attributed to one Shiv Kumar and were posted as the top comment by the unidentified website.
As expected, Surjewala lashed out at Patra for peddling fake news. He wrote, “Fakery & falsehood have become the style of BJP Spokespersons! Modiji downwards, they all believe in manfacturing falsehood to dupe and deceive. Present is a classic instance of perpetuating untruth!”
Fakery & falsehood have become the style of BJP Spokespersons!
Modiji downwards, they all believe in manfacturing falsehood to dupe and deceive.
Present is a classic instance of perpetuating untruth! https://t.co/McEC99trYV
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 3, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are now facing criticism for the questionable success of its air strikes in Balakot. According to many pro-government TV channels, more than 300 Pakistan-based terrorists were killed in the Indian air strikes. However, senior Air Force officials last week had publicly contradicted that claims saying that it will be premature to comment on the number of any casualties.
In January this year, Patra had faced public ridicule for using fake news in a TV debate to attack Sonia Gandhi. In 2017, he had used a fake news to attack NDTV channel.