After Pakistan leader admits role in Pulwama attack, Javadekar demands Congress's apology on conspiracy theories

"Pakistan has admitted its hand behind Pulwama terror attack. Now, Congress and others who talked of conspiracy theories must apologise to the country," he tweeted Friday morning.

On February 14 last, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre, holding the ruling party accountable for the security lapses and questioning "who benefitted the most from the attack".

Several other Congress leaders also threw barbs at the government. One of them, Karnataka Congress leader BK Hariprasad, who is known for making controversial statements, said: "... it looks like Narendra Modi had a match-fixing with the people of Pakistan".

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh was also criticised for his comments.

"What has happened to the Congress? They say the opposite of the people's mood. In no country does it happen that there is mistrust of the armed forces,"  Javadekar had said, condemning the Congress's comment.

On Thursday, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry during a speech in the country's parliament said: "We hit India in their home. Our success in Pulwama, is a success of the people under the leadership of Imran Khan. All of us are a part of that success."

"As his statement was followed by an uproar, Chaudhry said, "When we hit India in their home after the incident at Pulwama....."

BJP President JP Nadda referring to a meeting between parliamentary leaders of Pakistan, foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, details of which were revealed by an opposition leader during a parliament session of the country, slammed the Congress for its remarks on Pulwama attacks.

"Congress' princeling (a reference to Mr Gandhi) does not believe anything Indian, be it our Army, our Government, our Citizens. So, here is something from his 'Most Trusted Nation', Pakistan. Hopefully now he sees some light..." BJP President JP Nadda tweeted.

At least 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were martyred as Pakistan-based militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out an attack in Kashmir's Pulwama on Feb 14, 2019.

Within 24 hours, India had retaliated by bombing a terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Fawad Chaudhury's remarks suggesting Pakistan's role in Pulwama attack were made after Ayaz Sadiq of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) revealed during a speech in parliament that Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa's legs were shaking when the country's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the lawmakers in a meeting February last year that India would attack if Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was not released,

“I remember Shah Mahmood Qureshi was in the meeting in which Imran Khan had refused to attend and Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa came into the room, his legs were shaking and he was perspiring. Foreign Minister said for God’s sake let Abhinandan go, India’s about to attack Pakistan at 9 PM," said Sadiq, reported Pakistan's Dunya News.

After the sudden revelation left Pakistan's Imran Khan government barefaced, Chaudhry refuted Sadiq's claims and alleged that he "lied with a lot of confidence" on Wing Commander Abhinandan's release, adding that Pakistan had given a befitting reply to India, reported Dunya News.