‘Vote-Bank Compulsion’: BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Silence’ On Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over what he described as his silence on Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. Bhandari said Indians and people of Indian origin are proud of Machchhar’s actions during the reported incident and praised his efforts to prevent a potential 9/11-style terror attack. He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with the pilot. Bhandari alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have not publicly commented on Machchhar, while accusing them of speaking more frequently on other international issues. He further alleged that Gandhi’s silence was linked to “vote-bank compulsion”. These are Bhandari’s political allegations; Rahul Gandhi’s position should be assessed separately based on any public response or statement.