'Just wanted to open his eyes': Congress' Ajay Rai defends 'toy Rafale' jibe at Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai defended his "toy Rafale" jibe at the Centre, stating his intent was to urge defence minister Rajnath Singh to take decisive action against terrorism after Pahalgam terror attack which claimed 26 lives.
The clarification came after BJP leaders strongly criticised Rai for allegedly undermining military morale.
"It is time to give a reply to those who killed our people in Pahalgam. When the defence minister went to take delivery of Rafale, he hung lemon-chillies on Rafale," Rai said.
"I just wanted to open his eyes and show him that the people of the country want action against terrorism. Strictest action should be taken against the terrorists, and the people giving them support should be finished," he added.
Earlier, a controversy erupted after Rai displayed a toy Rafale aircraft decorated with lemons and chillies, mocking the government's purchase of Rafale jets by claiming they were merely sitting in hangars with traditional ward-off-evil decorations.
“Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering because of it. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. But this government, which talks a lot and says that they will crush terrorists — they brought Rafale, but they are in their hangars with chillies and lemons hanging on them. When will they take action against terrorists, those who support them, and their backers?” Rai said.
The reference to lemons and chillies appeared to mock Rajnath Singh’s 2019 traditional ceremony during India’s first Rafale jet acquisition in France, where he performed a "puja" by placing lemons under the aircraft's wheels and a coconut on top.
'Grave offence of aiding Pakistan'
Following Rai’s remarks, BJP leaders alleged that his comments suggested grave offence of aiding Pakistan.
"Look at Ajay Rai, UP president of the pro-Pakistan Congress party, who is making headlines in Pakistani newspapers and channels. This is a conspiracy by the anti-Modi Congress party to break the morale of the Army," BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted on X.
BJP leader Tarun Chugh also slammed the Congress, accusing it of deliberately targeting the armed forces.
"The Congress party is unfortunately running a calculated conspiracy to demoralize India’s brave security forces. The very weapons that our soldiers revere and use to defend the nation are being mocked by Congress. By doing so, they are committing the grave offense of aiding Pakistan. Their actions are disgraceful, shameful, vulgar, foolish, completely inappropriate—and ultimately anti-national," Chugh said.