Congress did not praise pilot Machchhar for fear of losing minority community votes: MP CM Mohan Yadav

Khandwa: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday said the Congress did not praise Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his exemplary bravery because the party feared losing the minority community's vote.

Machchhar has been hailed as a hero across the world after he successfully fought off his co-pilot, who wanted to take control and crash a flydubai flight operating from UAE to Israel with 174 passengers. The aircraft was later diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

"An Omani man attacked an Indian person (pilot Smit Machchhar) with an axe inside an aircraft flying to Israel, and the Indian man risked his life to save the lives of around 200 people. Such bravery is part of Sanatan culture but Congress leaders are not praising Machchhar for fear of losing minority votes," the CM claimed.


"Congress leaders hungry for votes should be ashamed of such behaviour," Yadav added.

The Congress has not changed since the time the party was in power and is still behaving in the same manner, the BJP leader said.

Slamming Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his visit to Balaghat on October 1 to meet families of tribal children who reportedly died of infectious diseases in recent months, the MP CM cited Left Wing Extremism in the state during Congress rule.

Under the Congress, Maoists in tribal-dominated districts such as Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori and dacoits in the Chambal region had been given a "free hand" to kill people.

Referring to the 1999 killing of then MP minister Likhiram Kawre by Maoists in Balaghat, Yadav claimed no senior Congress leader had ever visited Kawre's family to condole his death.

"Now that we have eliminated Naxalism from the entire state, these vote-hungry leaders are going to Balaghat. Arre babu, when your party was in power, you should have gone to Balaghat then," Yadav said.

Gandhi believes he has been born a prince and members of his family are destined to be prime minister, Yadav further said.

Yadav was speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary of former Gondwana ruler Rani Durgavati.

The CM praised her valour and contribution to the country and also honoured descendants of the erstwhile rulers of the 52 forts of the Gond dynasty spread across Madhya Pradesh and other states.

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey and state Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah were also present at the function.