The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for their remarks concerning the Rafale fighter jets and the recent conflict with Pakistan. The BJP has accused the Congress leaders of echoing Pakistani narratives and undermining the morale of the Indian armed forces, labeling them as "Pakistan Ke Babbar," drawing a parallel to villains in Bollywood movies.

The controversy arose after Revanth Reddy, during a public rally in Hyderabad, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the handling of the conflict with Pakistan. Reddy specifically asked how many Rafale jets were shot down by Pakistan and criticized the government for not convening an all-party meeting before ceasing hostilities. These remarks triggered a sharp response from senior BJP leaders, who accused Reddy of echoing anti-national sentiments and undermining national security.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy condemned Revanth Reddy's statements, accusing the Congress party of a history of disrespecting the military and national security efforts. He stated that from Rahul Gandhi to Revanth Reddy, Congress leaders are constantly demeaning the brave armed forces and speaking the enemy's language.

Similarly, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya lashed out at Revanth Reddy, accusing him of echoing Pakistan's line and questioning the credibility of India's armed forces. Malviya pointed out that if Pakistan had indeed shot down a Rafale aircraft, there would be concrete evidence, such as satellite imagery or wreckage. He further added that instead of supporting the armed forces, Congress leaders appear to be sourcing their information from unreliable sources, sounding more like Pakistan's PR team than India's opposition.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also targeted Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, and Revanth Reddy, referring to them as the "Saboot gang" (evidence gang) and accusing them of trying to lower the morale of the Indian Army. Patra asserted that those who are "Babbar" in Pakistan are "Gabbar" in India, suggesting they will meet the same fate as the villain Gabbar Singh in the movie "Sholay."

The BJP's response also included fact-checking Revanth Reddy's claims, demanding proof of the alleged Rafale losses. They accused Congress leaders of relying on WhatsApp forwards for information. The Indian Air Force has not officially confirmed any Rafale losses in combat.

This isn't the first time Rahul Gandhi has faced criticism over Rafale-related remarks. In 2019, the BJP accused him of misquoting the Supreme Court's observations on the Rafale deal and demanded an apology. The Supreme Court had then asked Gandhi to explain his remarks, noting that he had incorrectly attributed views and findings to the court.

The Congress party, on the other hand, has sought to downplay the controversy, stating that the BJP is distorting Rahul Gandhi's comments and that his intent was not to hurt anyone. They also accused the Modi government of using the court's order on the Rafale review petition to assert a clean chit in the deal.

The Rafale deal, an agreement to purchase 36 Rafale warplanes from France, has been a contentious issue in Indian politics. The Congress-led opposition has repeatedly raised questions about the deal's pricing and alleged irregularities. The Supreme Court, however, has upheld the deal, stating that no irregularities or corruption were found.