‘Salute IAF pilots’, says Rahul Gandhi on Air Force strike on Jaish terror camp

india

Updated: Feb 26, 2019 14:55 IST

Several political leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday reacted to Indian Air Force fighter jets striking a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp across the Line of Control early in the morning.

The IAF used Mirage-2000 jets with laser-guided bombs causing an estimated casualty of 200-300, almost two weeks after a terror attack killed 40 CRPF soldiers in south’s Kashmir’s Pulwama ratcheting tensions between India and Pakistan.

Catch live updates here: Live updates | 200-300 killed as Mirage-2000 fighter jets strike terror camp: Sources

Here is what the leaders said:

Rahul Gandhi

“I salute the pilots of the IAF,” Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

“We salute the @IAF_MCC for their consistent & determined effort to keep Indians safe. Jai Hind,” said the Congress from its official Twitter handle.

Union minister Rupala praises IAF

Within hours of reports of strikes by the IAF, Union minister Parshottam Rupala wrote on Twitter: “BHARAT MATA KI JAI @narendramodi AND BRAVEHEARTS OF OUR ARMY n AIRFORCE JAI HO.”

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

“My Salute to the Indian Airforce.Jai Jawan.. Jai Hind..,” tweeted HD Kumaraswamy.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah

“Wow, if this is true this was not a small strike by any stretch of imagination but will wait for official word, should any be forthcoming,” Abdullah said in a tweet.

“As reports of air strikes across the LoC by IAF planes gather steam looks like our defences are in the air including this airborne early warning aircraft. Appears to be patrolling the international border,” the National Conference leader said.

Also read | IAF jets strike and destroy Jaish terror camp across LoC: Sources

Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha

“Congratulations to our brave air force for a brilliant operation across the LOC,” said Sinha.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal

“I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan,” he said on Twitter.

Congress party

“We salute the @IAF_MCC for their consistent & determined effort to keep Indians safe. Jai Hind,” the opposition party tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath

Congratulations to the brave soldiers of the Indian Air Force for tough action against the terror camps. I and my party are with you in every step taken for the good of the nation,” Nath tweeted in Hindi.

Congress MP leader Shashi Tharoor

“Jai Hind,” Tharoor tweeted.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav

“We salute bravery of our pilots and Air Force. We are blessed and proud of our forces. Jai Hind (sic),” Yadav tweeted.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy

“We are bombing our own territory temporarily called PoK. So no international law broken but it is in self defence (sic),” BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also posted on Twitter.