Terming as ‘ highly inappropriate’
the Opposition parties’ accusing the Prime Minister of politicising the Pulwama and Balakot incidents, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday urged them to revisit their stand vis-a-vis the authenticity of February 26 aerial strike carried out by the Air Force.
.’The resolution passed by 21 Opposition Parties after their meeting accusing the Prime Minister of politicizing the Pulwama and Balakot incidents was highly inappropriate. It gave a handle to the enemy. Pakistan’s media used this statement of 21 Opposition Parties as a trump card.
After IAF’s counter terror operation in Balakot, three statements ought not to have been made by India’s opposition parties. When entire nation was speaking in one voice and standing by the armed forces, these statements made by opposition parties hurt India’s national interest. They give smiles to Pakistan and become an instrument in Pakistan’s hands to discredit India’s operation against terrorism,’ he wrote in a blog ‘India’s Opposition Has A Lot To Learn’ on Facebook.
‘The Opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also an essential ingredient of public discourse. I hope, India’s Opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation,” he said.’
Mr Jaitley, who also held Defence portfolio for a brief period, slammed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for their recent statements.
‘The West Bengal Chief Minister went a step further. She started doubting the veracity of the incident and wanted to know the operational details. The credibility of both the Government and our Air Force is being doubted. Even Congress leaders have raised similar questions,’ the Union Finance Minister said.’
Ecpressing disappointment at statement by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he was disturbed with the “Mad rush of mutual self-destruction” by the two nations,Mr Jaitley said, ‘the most disappointing and objectionable statement was of the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He stated that he was disturbed with the “Mad rush of mutual self-destruction” by the two nations. According to him perpetrator of terrorism & its victim are both at par.
,In his speech, Dr Singh implicitly doubted India’s right to defend its sovereignty from those who want to damage it through terrorism. He mentioned poverty, ignorance and disease in his speech. But violence and terrorism are of no consequence in his assessment.’
On the veracity of the Balakot attack, the Minister said, “The retaliatory attack by Pakistan’s F-16 was the most botched up operation. In short, both the attack and our defence pointed to the valour and professionalism of our Air Force. Pakistan was globally isolated. Even the OIC refused to pay heed to it.
It violated every tenet of the Geneva Convention in relation to our brave Wing Commander Abhinandan. Not only was Pakistan globally isolated, the issue of its terrorism has reached the Security Council. So helpless was the situation that it was in no position to even admit the attack at Balakot. If it had admitted the attack and its consequences, the evidence of a terrorist camp in existence and the list of dead terrorists would have been international issue.’
He said the Congress and other opposition parties refused to learn. After initial support, the parties have tried to create a divide in India’s political opinion. (UNI)
