Senior Congress leaders on Sunday expressed concern about the implications for national security following the leak of purported WhatsApp messages that suggest Republic TV managing director Arnab Goswami may have known about the February 2019 Balakot air strikes in advance.

While one Congress minister used the word “treason” to describe the alleged leak of military secrets,sources said the central leadership had taken the matter “very seriously” and would articulate its position soon.

Former home minister P. Chidambaram tweeted: “Did a journalist (and his friend) know about the retaliatory strike on Balakot camp three days before the actual strike? If yes, what is the guarantee that their ‘source’ did not share the information with others as well, including spies or informers working for Pakistan? How did a ‘For Your Eyes Only’ decision find its way to the government-supporting journalist?”

Former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari tweeted: “Was national security milked for electoral purposes? Needs a JPC (joint parliamentary committee) investigation.”