Rising political heat around the pilot’s valor
The Bharatiya Janata Party has shifted its spotlight onto Congress figure Rahul Gandhi, probing the reason behind his silence after Captain Smit Machchhar sustained injuries while thwarting an alleged hijack attempt on a Flydubai service bound for Tel Aviv.
BJP lauds the aviator’s determination
Party mouthpiece Sambit Patra commended Machchhar for forcing open the cockpit door despite his wounds, a move that allowed the crew and passengers to regain command of the aircraft. The plane subsequently touched down safely on Saudi soil. Patra described the captain’s “courage and presence of mind” as a benchmark of public service.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reached out to the pilot during his convalescence, praising his decisive role in preventing a possible disaster.
Congress urged to break its silence
The BJP’s rebuke centers on the lack of any official statement from Rahul Gandhi. Fellow party members, such as Sudhanshu Trivedi, have pressed the Gandhi family to explain why they have not publicly honoured the pilot’s actions, contrasting this perceived reticence with the accolades showered by other senior officials.
Parallel jibe at Congress’s Pakistan posture
In the same breath, the BJP targeted senior Congress stalwart Mani Shankar Aiyar for his comments advocating dialogue with Pakistan. BJP representatives argued that Aiyar’s stance runs counter to the government’s firm line on the neighbour, using the issue to question the opposition’s broader national‑security outlook.
Probes remain ongoing
The facts surrounding the alleged assault on Captain Machchhar by a co‑pilot are still under investigation. As the inquiry unfolds, the episode has morphed into a flashpoint within the larger BJP‑Congress rivalry, intertwining aviation safety concerns with broader political narratives.
