BJP politicising Captain Machchhar episode, says Congress MP Imran Masood
Synopsis
Congress MP Imran Masood accused the BJP of weaponising the Captain Smit Machchhar cockpit-attack story for political gain, while separately intensifying Congress's offensive against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar — calling for his removal and alleging governments in Bihar and Bengal were formed through 'stolen votes.'
Key Takeaways
Imran Masood , newly appointed UP Congress Working President , accused the BJP of turning the Captain Smit Machchhar episode into a political 'event' on 4 October 2026 .
Captain Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot inside the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 , with more than 170 people on board; the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia .
The BJP had questioned the Gandhi family's silence on Machchhar's bravery, triggering Masood's rebuttal.
Masood also demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , claiming a trust built over 70 years had been broken.
He alleged governments in Bihar and Bengal were formed through 'stolen votes', responding to criticism from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan .
Congress MP and newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress Working President Imran Masood on Sunday, 4 October 2026, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to convert the flydubai cockpit attack involving Captain Smit Machchhar into a political 'event', even as he lauded the pilot's courage in averting what could have been a catastrophic in-flight disaster.
The Incident Behind the Controversy
The controversy stems from an alarming mid-air crisis aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, when Captain Machchhar was allegedly attacked inside the cockpit by his co-pilot, sustaining grievous injuries. Despite the assault, the pilot is credited with helping avert a potential disaster. The aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident drew widespread attention and prompted political reactions across party lines in India.
Masood on the BJP's 'Event' Framing
When specifically asked about the Gandhi family's perceived silence over Captain Machchhar's actions, Masood pushed back, asserting that the BJP was manufacturing a political controversy rather than simply honouring the pilot. 'Captain Smit Machchhar saved his own life and the lives of others. Salute to his bravery. But it is not as if the BJP has turned everything into an event. The BJP tries to turn every other issue into an event. He is alive, let's just pray he is well; that's all,' the Congress MP said.
Notably, the BJP had publicly questioned why Congress leadership — particularly members of the Gandhi family — had not issued statements acknowledging Machchhar's bravery, while, according to the party, they had previously spoken about the conflict in Palestine. Congress has not formally responded to those specific claims.
Election Commission Row and Rahul Gandhi's Fight
Masood also addressed a separate political flashpoint: the ongoing controversy involving the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Tensions have escalated between the Congress and another political grouping over the treatment of protesters allegedly connected to the defacing of Kumar's ancestral residence.
Masood maintained that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was leading the 'real fight' against the Election Commission, and dismissed other developments as attempts to dilute pressure on the institution. 'There are many things that are practised to divert the issue. But the real fight is being fought by Rahul Gandhi, and whatever outcome comes from this fight in the country will come from Rahul Gandhi's fight, not from anything else,' he said.
He went further, directly targeting the CEC: 'The Election Commission has put the entire country in question. A trust that had been built over 70 years has been broken by one person sitting in the chair. We will not let Gyanesh Kumar sit in peace. Gyanesh Kumar will have to go, and he will have to answer for this.'
Counterattack on Bihar and Bengal Governments
Masood also escalated allegations against the BJP over the state governments in Bihar and Bengal, claiming both were formed through 'stolen votes' and amounted to what he described as 'killing democracy.' His remarks were a pointed rebuttal to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier characterised the Congress's repeated questioning of the Election Commission as an 'old habit' that was 'embedded in the DNA of the Congress party.'
Responding directly, Masood alleged: 'They have insulted democracy. They are running governments through stolen votes. There are governments in Bengal and Bihar that have been formed through stolen votes. They are running governments on the strength of stolen votes, after killing democracy.'
What Comes Next
With both the BJP and Congress escalating their attacks across multiple fronts — the Machchhar episode, the Election Commission row, and state-level governance allegations — political temperatures are set to remain elevated heading into the week. How the Congress formally responds to the BJP's Gandhi-family challenge, and whether the ECI controversy draws further judicial or institutional scrutiny, will be the key indicators to watch.
Point of View
And the absence of a statement from Congress's top leadership hands the BJP a readymade narrative. On the Election Commission front, Masood's language — 'We will not let Gyanesh Kumar sit in peace' — marks an escalation that could either galvanise Congress's base or expose it to a backlash over institutional overreach, depending on how the courts and the public read it.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Imran Masood say about the Captain Machchhar episode?
Congress MP Imran Masood praised Captain Smit Machchhar's bravery but accused the BJP of converting the incident into a political 'event' rather than simply honouring the pilot. He made the remarks on 4 October 2026 while responding to BJP criticism of the Gandhi family's silence on the matter.
What happened on flydubai flight FZ1073?
Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly attacked inside the cockpit by his co-pilot during the flight, sustaining grievous injuries. Despite the assault, he helped prevent a potential disaster, and the aircraft — carrying more than 170 people — was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Why is the BJP criticising the Gandhi family over the Machchhar incident?
The BJP has questioned why Congress leadership, particularly members of the Gandhi family, did not publicly acknowledge Captain Machchhar's courageous actions, while allegedly expressing concern about the conflict in Palestine. Congress has not formally addressed those specific comparisons.
What did Imran Masood say about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
Masood demanded that CEC Gyanesh Kumar step down, stating that a trust built over 70 years in the Election Commission had been broken. He said Congress would 'not let Gyanesh Kumar sit in peace' and that Kumar would have to 'answer' for his actions.
What allegations did Masood make about Bihar and Bengal?
Masood alleged that the BJP-backed governments in Bihar and Bengal were formed through 'stolen votes,' describing it as 'killing democracy.' The remarks were a direct rebuttal to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier criticised Congress for repeatedly questioning the Election Commission.
