Shah alludes to IAF strike at MP rally to attack Oppn
Says govt under ex-PM Manmohan Singh had no courage to hit back after 26/11
UMARIA (MP): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah Saturday sharpened his attack on the Opposition, alleging that Congress, and other parties have raised “doubts” over the strike by the Indian Air Force on terror camps in Pakistan. Shah said while the last four days were “heavy” for Pakistan but opposition parties gave it “a chance to be happy”.
Speaking ahead of the launch of BJP’s bike rally in Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “The press conference by [Congress president] Rahul Gandhi and his 21 allies gave Pakistan a chance to be happy.” Shah was referring to a meeting of opposition parties in New Delhi on February 27.
Reading out a joint statement after the meeting, Rahul had said the 21 opposition parties expressed “deep anguish” over the ruling party’s “blatant politicisation” of the sacrifices made by Indian armed forces. The opposition parties, however, extended full support to the IAF in their statement.
At Saturday’s rally, Shah said, “The opposition leaders are raising questions over airstrike on terror camps in Pakistan. I want to ask them, you (Congress) remained in power for long. The country is facing terrorism since 1990. Did you ever show courage to hit back at terrorists?”
Shah said the UPA government under Manmohan Singh did not “strike back” at the terrorists after 26/11 attacks in 2008 as it lacked “courage”.
“Things have changed under PM Modi. We gave befitting reply to terrorists and their supporters after attack in Uri camp and also after Pulwama terror attack,” he told BJP party workers.
The BJP president also hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over their statements on IAF strike and Pulwama attack.
“Mamataji seeks to know if air strike was actually carried out. Akhilesh says there should be probe into Pulwama terror attack...There should be a limit to vote bank politics,” said Shah.
Days after Pulwama attack, Indian Air Force carried out strike at what was believed to be the biggest terror camp of Jaishe-Mohammed at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The IAF later said it succeeded in its mission to destroy the terror infrastructure.
Launching BJP’s bike rally, Shah claimed that while Pakistan has admitted to India’s response to terrorists after Pulwama, the Opposition was targeting the Modi government for vote bank politics. He said “only Modi government” can give befitting reply to Pakistan.