WAR OF WORDS ON PULWAMA RAGES ON

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday kick-started his poll campaigns in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab by targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “politicising” the Pulwama attack in his public rallies. BJP chief Amit Shah said Gandhi should feel “ashamed” for seeking proof of the air strike.

In Punjab’s Moga district, Congress president accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of striking a deal with the Shiromani Akali Dal to bungle the state’s ₹31,000 crore food legacy debt account arising out of the mismanagement. In Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra, Gandhi reiterated his party decision to accord martyrs’ status to paramilitary men killed in line of duty, if they form government at the Centre.

When Pulwama happened and action was ongoing with Pakistan, I ... said that the Congress... (is) standing with IAF and government RAHUL GANDHI, Congress president

There is a match fixing between Narendra Modi and (Pak PM) Imran Khan, or else this Pulwama incident would not have taken place. BK HARIPRASAD , Congress leader

First by surgical strike and later by air strike, the Modi govt gave freedom to jawans to give a befitting reply to bullets with cannon fire AMIT SHAH, BJP president

...under Rahul Gandhi, Congress has lost all its moorings and is perhaps closing (sic) its future. People of India will give a befitting reply... RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD, law & justice minister

Addressing BJP booth-level workers at Bamora, Madhya Pradesh, BJP chief said people will give Rahul Gandhi a fitting reply for his questions regarding the airstrike in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Shah lauded PM Narendra Modi for his “work and untiring attitude”. Earlier, “only two countries” were known for avenging attack on their forces. “Modiji has now ensured

India’s name is also counted among such countries.”