Ajay Rai’s ‘nimbu-mirchi’ jibe over Rafale use in Pahalgam aftermath sparks BJP-Congress row
New Delhi: A political row erupted after Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai used a toy plane hung with lemon and chillies to question the government’s response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Rai made a symbolic reference, aimed at the Centre’s inaction despite possessing Rafale fighter jets, to the popular superstition of warding off evil with a “nimbu-mirchi” charm.
With the toy plane in his hands, Rai questioned, “When will they take action against terrorists and those who support them? Rafale jets are parked in hangars, protected with lemons and chillies. Our youth went to Pahalgam full of joy, but their bodies came back in coffins.”
The BJP responded, accusing the Congress of echoing Pakistan’s narrative. BJP’s spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, “Ajay Rai has not just held a toy plane, he has insulted the armed forces and played into Pakistan’s hands.” He claimed that while the Congress publicly pledged support to the Centre following the attack, its other leaders have acted to demoralize Indian forces.
Poonawala said, “This isn’t an isolated slip-up, it’s a pattern,” citing previous controversial comments by Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, Charanjit Singh Channi, Vijay Wadettiwar and RB Timmapur.
The video was picked up by Pakistan’s media, adding fuel to the BJP’s criticism that the Congress was acting like a “PR agent” for India’s adversaries. Despite the backlash, Rai stood by his statement, saying, “I am only asking when Rafale will be used. The country is waiting for action against the Pahalgam killers.” He also added that while the Congress supports the government in fighting terrorism, people have a right to question its strategy.
The Congress leadership has cautioned its members against making off-the-cuff remarks after getting caught off guard by repeated flare-ups. The Communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh clarified on X that only views expressed by Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and authorized AICC office-bearers represent the official party line.
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Raghav Chadha deleted X posts critical of Modi, BJP: AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday claimed that party MP Raghav Chadha has deleted his earlier posts on X that were critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
He also claimed that the Rajya Sabha MP's posts shared by AAP leaders had also disappeared from his account.
There was no immediate response from Chadha to Bharadwaj's allegations, which came amid the ongoing feud between the AAP and the Rajya Sabha MP. The spat came out in the open after the party removed Chadha as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In a post on X on Saturday, Bharadwaj claimed that a search of Chadha's timeline using keywords such as "BJP" and "Modi" did not show any critical remarks. Only two posts mentioning Modi remain and both praise the prime minister.
Posts earlier quoted by AAP leaders have also disappeared from Chadha's account, he alleged.
Describing the move as "more than a routine clean up", the Delhi AAP chief said Chadha had "reshaped his public profile on the platform".
"Raghav Chadha, who was once a sharp critic of Modi and the BJP, has completely erased his old image and presented a new, polished version of himself like one put through a washing machine," Bharadwaj said.
The way Chadha's timeline has been systematically altered reflects the level of preparation behind it, he said.
The AAP has accused Chadha of shying away from raising his voice against PM Modi and the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR". Chadha, however, has dismissed the allegations as "lies" and asserted that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not create ruckus.
Raghav Chaddha has deleted all his earlier posts on X that were critical of Modi or BJP.
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) April 4, 2026
As suggested by some on X, I searched Raghav’s timeline for “BJP” or “Modi”
There are no critical posts there. This means he has deleted all his earlier posts too. The only 2 posts with… pic.twitter.com/R7a8fH1LT8
