Twitterati question top Indian general's sanity after 'bizarre' allegation against Pakistan

Lt Gen BS Raju claims Pak Army trying to infiltrate coronavirus infected patients into IOK

Twitterati on either side of the India-Pakistan border are having a field day after a top Indian army commander, in a bizarre interview, claimed that the Pakistan Army was trying to infiltrate coronavirus infected patients into Indian Occupied Kashmir.

But Lieutenant General Baggavalli Somashekar Raju, the Indian military’s top man deputed in the disputed valley, responded with "intelligence reports" when asked to back up the allegation.

कोरोनाः भारत ने लगाए पाकिस्तान पर आरोप और इस पर पाकिस्तान ने क्या जवाब दिया?
वीडियोः जुगल पुरोहित#CoronaVirus #India #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/n1ojvTDY7u

— BBC News Hindi (@BBCHindi) April 15, 2020

Social media users from across the border were quick to jump on the trolling bandwagon with Indian author and former army officer Prawin Sawhney questioning how the interview was aired as serious journalism.

Pakistan Army rubbishes Indian claims of infiltration of COVID-19 patients into IOK

He went on to say that he was baffled by how the high-ranking general made the accusation bereft of any evidence. "Jawans do such talks in langar (eating halls)," he tweeted.

GOC 15, Gen Raju, says Pak pushing #COVID19 cases across LoC. Attributes info to int agencies, himself has no proof. Wondering who made his 3 star who airs serious opinion, likely to reach UN, without evidence. Jawans do such talks in #langer (eating hall) https://t.co/q7qSSgfx7P

— Pravin Sawhney (@PravinSawhney) April 15, 2020

Rajiv Kumar, another user, said the interview was a manifestation of the "deep-seated incompetence and Pakistan-phobia within the ranks of the Indian Army."

https://twitter.com/humdekhenge2020/status/1250261520014921732

A third, who goes by the handle of Shhhh, poured cold water on Gen Raju's theory that Pakistan had assembled infected terrorists for infiltration.

"But covid affects respiratory system which means that terrorists won't be physically fit to run..," he tweeted.

https://twitter.com/Shhhh83205871/status/1250379079913623553

Another account, associated with a terrorism expert, had an unexpected yet, for many, a plausible explanation.

The user, with the handle Kh khalid Farooq, suggested one explanation for the bizarre claim could be that the Indian general was a fan of Bollywood thrillers, known for outlandish plots and story lines that often have no semblance to reality.

Just pity such generals . May be he is infected with COVID-19 or psychological disorder or fan of Bollywood thrillers .

— Khawaja Khalid Farooq (@Kkf50) April 15, 2020

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army was quick to rubbish the accusation, deeming it "delusional".

The military's media wing suggested that New Delhi should focus on resolving their internal issues arising out of COVID-19 lockdown.

“Indian 15 Corps Comd interview with BBC – 13 Apr 2020: Indian insinuations about infiltration and CFVs by Pakistan are not only baseless but are also patently designed to divert global and domestic attention from the unending fiasco post – 5 Aug 2019,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) tweeted.

Indian 15 Corps Comd interview with BBC - 13 Apr 2020: Indian insinuations about infiltration and CFVs by Pakistan are not only baseless but are also patently designed to divert global and domestic attention from the unending fiasco post - 5 Aug 2019... (1/3)

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 14, 2020

“No less delusional are the allegations about Pakistan infiltrating Covid-affected individuals into IOJK,” the military’s media wing said in another tweet.

Pakistan has always extended unhindered UNMOGIP access to the LoC, he further said. “We will continue to do that most transparently.”

Indian 15 Corps Comd interview with BBC - 13 Apr 2020: Indian insinuations about infiltration and CFVs by Pakistan are not only baseless but are also patently designed to divert global and domestic attention from the unending fiasco post - 5 Aug 2019... (1/3)

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 14, 2020