New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday praised AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi for sharply criticizing Pakistan’s recent propaganda blunder, calling him a “true Indian” during a crucial time. Rijiju’s remarks came after Owaisi mocked Pakistan’s military leadership for using a doctored image to claim victory over India following Operation Sindoor.
The controversy began when Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir presented Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with a commemorative photo of “Operation Bunyan al-Marsus.” The image, however, turned out to be from a 2019 Chinese military drill, not an actual Pakistani operation, and has been widely circulated online for years.
Speaking to members of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait, Owaisi ridiculed the Pakistani military’s use of the fake photo. “These stupid jokers want to compete with India. They used a 2019 Chinese Army drill photo and claimed it as a victory over India,” he said. “It takes brains to copy—these people don’t even have that,” Owaisi added in Hindi, saying, “Nakal karne ke liye akal chahiye, inke paas akal bhi nahi hai.”
Rijiju responded by sharing a video of Owaisi’s speech on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Exposed Pakistan. At least Asaduddin Owaisi is speaking as a true Indian in a very critical time.”
The image in question shows a PHL-03, a Chinese-made multiple rocket launcher. It was originally photographed by Huang Hai and first published in 2019. Despite its known origins, the image was presented as a symbol of Pakistani military success against India.
The incident has sparked fresh embarrassment for Islamabad, drawing criticism not only from Indian leaders but also from observers globally. Meanwhile, Owaisi’s comments, though often controversial, drew bipartisan appreciation for their clarity and nationalistic tone in this instance.
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