New Delhi [India], July 26 (ANI): As today marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Saturday reiterated his earlier remarks on the 1999 Kargil war, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 'no right' to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas owing to the intelligence failure.

Speaking to ANI, Alvi targeted the then-BJP-led government, claiming that the Indian intelligence agencies were unaware of Pakistan's intrusion in Kargil, and it was a local shepherd who brought it to the government's notice.

He accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming that the Vajpayee government was oblivious to Pakistani intrusion in Kargil.

'This statement of mine is 24-25 years old, which is dug every year by BJP leaders, and I clarify it every year. I say - Our armed forces did a wonderful job in Kargil, the army is praiseworthy. The whole country has the right to celebrate this victory, but the BJP has no right to celebrate the Kargil Victory Day. It was the BJP government, the BJP PM (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was having dinner in Lahore, and the Pakistani army was hiding inside Kargil. The government did not even know that Pakistan had entered our home. A shepherd from Ladakh informed the government about this,' the Congress leader said.

Questioning the BJP, Alvi asked who should be held responsible for the casualties and injuries of the Indian armed forces.

He stated, 'No intelligence of the Indian government had this information, a shepherd gave this information, then Kargil happened, our 545 soldiers were killed, 1500 soldiers were injured. Who is responsible for this? If our government had known earlier, if the government's intelligence had been working, then our 545 soldiers would not have been killed. BJP will have to answer who is responsible for the martyrdom of our soldiers... What right do you (BJP) have to celebrate Vijay Diwas?'

He also referred to a committee formed during the Vajpayee government to look into the Kargil episode.

'I want to ask one more thing from the BJP leaders. Atal ji's government had formed a committee at that time. The chairman of that committee was the present EAM's father. Read his report too, what all did he say to the government, what shortcomings did he point out, and what recommendations did he give? BJP should be ashamed of the things on which they are accusing us of,' Alvi stated.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari criticised the Congress party, alleging that they 'refused to honour' Kargil Vijay Diwas from 2004 to 2009.

https://x.com/pradip103/status/1948977212570382701

Citing Alvi's earlier statement, 'Kargil isn't a thing to celebrate', Bhandari alleged that for Congress, the valour of Indian soldiers was 'secondary' to their political insecurities.

In a social media post on X, the BJP leader wrote, 'Our Nation should never Forget: From 2004 to 2009, the Congress Party refused to honour Kargil Vijay Diwas. Congress leader Rashid Alvi shamelessly said - 'Kargil isn't a thing to celebrate.' For Congress, the valour of Indian soldiers was secondary to their political insecurities. They saw Kargil as BJP's victory, not India's. The nation salutes our bravehearts. But Rahul Gandhi's Congress chose silence over sacrifice. Congress Party has always been against India's National interest!' (ANI)