‘Chilies, lemons, and Rafales’: UP Congress chief slams Centre over terror response, asks 'When will govt act?'

Congress' UP chief Ajay Rai (Screengrab: ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai uniquely criticized the central government on Sunday by holding up a toy plane labeled ‘Rafale,’ with lemons and chilies dangling from it.

He mocked the BJP-led government, claiming that although the Rafale jets were imported from abroad, they remain parked in hangars, adorned with chilies and lemons.

Rai’s criticism was prompted by the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including a local pony ride operator. He accused the government of failing to effectively deploy its defense resources to combat terrorism and those behind such attacks.

“Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering as a result. Our youth lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. Yet this government, which talks extensively about combating terrorism, brought in Rafale jets that are sitting in hangars with chilies and lemons hanging from them. When will they take action against the terrorists, their supporters, and their backers?” Rai told the news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai shows a 'toy plane' with Rafale written on it and lemon-chillies hanging in it.Ajay Rai says, "Terrorist activities have increased in the country, and people are suffering from it. Our youth lost their lives in the pic.twitter.com/wIwLsa4akD
ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2025

These remarks come in the context of India’s recent defense deal—an agreement worth Rs 63,000 crore with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets, signed earlier this week. The deal aims to strengthen India’s naval strike capabilities.

The Rafale-M jets are designed for maritime strike, reconnaissance, and air defense operations. The Modi-led government has praised this acquisition as a significant enhancement to national defense.

On April 22, terrorists opened fire on dozens of tourists in Pahalgam, killing at least 26 people in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.