Bengaluru, May 21 (UNI) Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for his recent remark describing India’s military response as a "chhutt putt yudha" (petty skirmish), saying it was deeply insensitive and hurt the sentiments of millions across the country.
Speaking to reporters here, Narayan said Kharge’s comment not only belittled the sacrifices of India’s armed forces but also undermined the strategic strength demonstrated by the country in the face of external threats.
“This is not the first time Mr Kharge has made such irresponsible and dismissive remarks. Despite being in a senior leadership position and fully understanding the gravity of national security matters, he continues to make statements that are reckless and politically motivated,” he said.
Narayan noted that leaders within the Congress party itself, including former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and MP Shashi Tharoor, had praised India’s mature and firm handling of recent hostilities with Pakistan. He also pointed out that the international community had taken note of India’s capability to manage high-stakes military challenges with restraint and precision.
“India has shown the world what responsible leadership looks like. Even the most developed countries could not achieve what we did—neutralising hostile threats and inflicting significant damage on the adversary with minimal losses on our side. We brought Pakistan to its knees. They were literally at our feet, pleading for mercy and peace,” Narayan asserted.
He added that thanks to the bold and strategic decisions taken by the Narendra Modi-led government, India had sent a clear and powerful message to its enemies: any aggression would be met with unwavering resolve and force. “The enemy cannot even dream of initiating an offensive against us now. Our strength and preparedness have been proven beyond doubt,” he said.
Criticising Kharge further, Narayan said, “Despite all this, Kharge’s remark reeks of ignorance, jealousy, and deep-rooted bias. What does he even mean by calling it a ‘chhutt putt yudha’? Is he questioning the courage of our soldiers or the wisdom of the Prime Minister? Such language is unbecoming of a national leader.”
Calling on the Congress party to clarify its stance, Narayan said it must take responsibility for the remarks of its president and apologise to the armed forces and the people of the country.
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