'Rahul owes nation explanation': BJP says IAF support tender for 36 Rafales exposes Pakistan propaganda

NEW DELHI: BJP on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of echoing narratives that "mirrored Pakistan's propaganda" during Operation Sindoor. The ruling party at the Centre also charged that Rahul chose to question the government instead of demanding proof from Islamabad over its claims about Rafale fighter jets.The fresh political salvo came after a recent Air Force (IAF) tender seeking a support package for all 36 Rafale fighter jets was cited by the BJP as evidence that Pakistan's long-standing claim of having shot down multiple Rafales during the conflict does not hold up.Leading the charge, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya alleged that while Pakistan was pushing claims about downed Rafale jets, Rahul Gandhi chose to question the Union government rather than seek proof from Islamabad."During Operation Sindoor, when India was confronting a grave national security challenge, Rahul Gandhi chose to amplify questions and narratives that mirrored Pakistan’s propaganda about Indian Rafale fighter jets," Malviya said in a post on X.

According to the BJP leader, Pakistan's information ecosystem worked aggressively to promote the claim that Indian Rafales had been shot down. He alleged that Rahul's remarks at the time ended up giving legitimacy to a narrative being advanced by a hostile neighbour.

"Instead of demanding evidence from Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi sought answers from the Government of India, lending credibility to an adversarial claim at a sensitive moment," Malviya said.The BJP leader pointed to the latest IAF tender as proof that Pakistan's narrative had collapsed. "Today, an Indian Air Force tender seeking a support package for all 36 Rafale fighter aircraft has thoroughly undermined those claims.

The facts are clear: the propaganda that Pakistan peddled, and which Rahul Gandhi helped amplify, has fallen apart," he said.Malviya further argued that political disagreements should not come at the cost of national unity during military operations. He said there is "a time for political debate and a time for national solidarity", adding that raising doubts about military actions without evidence could hurt the morale of the armed forces.He went on to claim that many Indians would view such conduct as "crossing a red line", arguing that giving "oxygen to an adversary's disinformation campaign during a national security operation" would be seen not just as irresponsible politics but as "a betrayal of the national interest"."The Indian Air Force has answered with facts. Pakistan's propaganda stands exposed. Those who amplified it owe the nation an explanation," Malviya said.

Why Rafale tender matters

The row centres around an Air Headquarters Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in June, inviting bids for a five-month "bridge support" package covering all 36 Rafale fighter jets acquired from France.A "bridge support" package is a temporary arrangement designed to ensure uninterrupted maintenance, logistics and technical support until a longer-term contract is finalised. While such tenders are routine, the BJP has seized on this one because it covers the entire Rafale fleet.Pakistan had repeatedly claimed after Operation Sindoor that several Rafale jets were destroyed during the conflict. However, military officials had rejected those assertions, but Islamabad continued to push the narrative.Now, BJP leaders argue that the IAF's support request for all 36 aircraft reinforces India's position and exposes what they describe as Pakistan's misinformation campaign.