Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Sunday, 4 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Gandhi family at a press conference in New Delhi, accusing them of remaining conspicuously silent over the bravery of Captain Smit Machchhar — the Indian pilot who reportedly saved more than 170 lives aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 after being attacked mid-flight by his co-pilot. Trivedi alleged that the Congress leadership's silence reflected an ideology that, in his words, 'silently supports terror.'

Background: The Flydubai Incident

The incident that triggered the political row unfolded days earlier, when Captain Smit Machchhar reportedly averted a catastrophic in-flight crisis after his co-pilot attacked him aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying over 170 passengers. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the situation was brought under control. Captain Machchhar sustained grievous injuries in the process, and his actions have been widely hailed in India as an act of extraordinary courage.

What BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi Said

Addressing reporters, Trivedi questioned why no statement, social media post, or public remark had emerged from the Congress's top leadership in recognition of the pilot's act. He said: 'On such a proud occasion for India, there are also some embarrassing moments. Not a single word, social media post or press statement has come from the first family of Congress for Captain Smit.'

Trivedi also made pointed references to past positions attributed to the Gandhi family. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi had 'shed tears for the accused in the Batla House encounter' but had expressed no sympathy for Captain Machchhar. He took aim at Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, citing her earlier use of a bag depicting 'support to Palestine,' and at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying his earlier social media posts on Gaza made his current silence on the Indian pilot 'a matter of vote-bank politics.'

Trivedi framed the contrast as a clash of two ideologies: 'One ideology, while silently supporting terror, strikes like an axe...tearing apart India's constitutional institutions and social fabric, and effectively steering the nation's ship towards a crash. Then there is the other perspective, the one we represent, which is willing to endure blows and risk lives to save the ship.'

BJP's Questions to Congress on Past Statements

Trivedi went further, demanding that the Congress explain why its leaders had, in his characterisation, previously described figures such as Zakir Naik as a 'messiah of peace,' called Afzal Guru a 'victim of circumstances,' referred to Burhan Wani as a 'misguided youth,' termed Yakub Memon's hanging a 'judicial killing,' and expressed anguish over the Batla House encounter — yet had not publicly acknowledged the Indian pilot's valour. 'We demand a direct answer on this from the top leadership of Congress,' he said.

Imran Masood Appointment and UP Congress Picks Draw Fire

The BJP leader also took exception to the Congress appointing Imran Masood as the party's Working President in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Gandhi Jayanti. Trivedi recalled that Masood had drawn widespread controversy during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections for remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that at that time Masood was a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP), but alleged that Rahul Gandhi had personally attended Masood's election rally, subsequently inducted him into the Congress, fielded him in the Lok Sabha polls, and had now elevated him to Working President.

Trivedi also raised objections over the appointment of Aradhana Misra as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, citing a video that purportedly showed her stopping party workers from raising slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai.' He demanded that Rahul Gandhi explain both appointments.

The BJP also noted internal tensions within the Congress-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, with Trivedi citing remarks from both party leaderships as evidence of infighting ahead of the state Assembly polls.

The Congress party had not issued a formal response to the BJP's press conference as of Sunday evening; the political confrontation over the Gandhi family's silence on Captain Machchhar is expected to intensify as opposition parties head into campaign mode in Uttar Pradesh.