New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): Congress leader Madhu Goud Yaskhi on Friday strongly defended Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar over his controversial remark suggesting that India had informed Pakistan ahead of military action.

Yaskhi claimed the minister's 'confession' indicates Rahul Gandhi's concerns and supports BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's earlier assertions.

Speaking to ANI, Yaskhi said, '...Rahul Gandhi questioned EAM Dr. S Jaishankar on his confession that India has informed Pakistan that we are going to attack... This clearly indicates BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's tweet and now it has been proved that what Rahul Gandhi said was correct... The EAM informed Pakistan, which resulted in a loss to India and the Indian Armed Forces... The biggest blunder is that the Indian government informed Pakistan where they are going to attack...'

Yaskhi accused the Modi government of failing to change protocols post the Pulwama and Uri attacks, stating, 'This is a great betrayal. The Foreign Minister may now try to retract his words, but the damage has been done.'

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's criticised Rahul Gandhi for raising questions over the foreign minister's statement. In a post on X, Dubey accused Gandhi of hypocrisy, citing a 1991 military transparency agreement between India and Pakistan signed during a Congress-backed government. The pact, he said, mandated both countries to share military deployment and movement details.

He wrote, 'Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government agreed that India and Pakistan would exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?

Further adding to his criticism, Dubey said, 'Congress is hand in glove with the Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar ji?'.

However, the Congress leader Pawan Khera has rubbished this allegation, saying, 'This person needs to know that in late February 1991, the Indian National Congress had withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar government. Elections to the 10th Lok Sabha had already been announced.'

This exchange follows Rahul Gandhi's renewed criticism earlier this week of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. The Congress leader questioned the minister's silence on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor, insisting that the nation 'deserves the truth.'

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. It targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. In response, Pakistan shelled border areas and carried out drone attacks, prompting India to conduct airstrikes on 11 Pakistani airbases. Both countries agreed to cease hostilities on May 10. (ANI)