Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Congress leader Kapil Sibal spar over IAF strikes in Pakistan's Balakot | Photo Credit: PTI

New Delhi: Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, on Tuesday, hit out at the Congress leadership and questioned them on why they trusted international media over Indian intelligence agencies. Taking to Twitter, Rathore asked Congress leader Kapil Sibal if he would 'go to Balakot' to check the number of terrorists killed in the February 26 Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes.

"Kapil Sibal ji, you believe international media over own Intelligence agencies? You seem happy when media quoted by you says 'no losses in strike' ..and sir, for us you went to London to find evidence against EVMs, will you please also go to Balakot to check (sic)?" Rathore said in a tweet.

Kapil Sibal ji:



You believe international media over own Intelligence agencies?



You seem happy when media quoted by you says “no losses in strike”?



..and sir, for us you went to london to find evidence against EVMs, will you please also go to Balakot to check? https://t.co/JefbNnGdqP — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) March 5, 2019

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Earlier, Sibal had taken to Twitter and questioned PM Modi if the international media was reporting incorrect facts about the number of casualties in Balakot strikes. "Modiji, is international media- New York Times, London based Jane's Information Group, Washinton Post, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Reuters reporting no proof of militant losses at Balakot pro-Pakistan? You are guilty of politicising terror (sic)?" Sibal had said. Besides Sibal, opposition leaders Digvijaya Singh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also raised questions over the number of casualties in IAF strikes in Balakot.

Modiji :



Is international media :



1) New York Times

2) London based Jane's Information Group

3) Washinton Post

4) Daily Telegraph

5) The Guardian

6) Reuters



reporting no proof of militant losses at Balakot pro-Pakistan ?



You are guilty of politicising terror ? — Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) March 4, 2019

Addressing a media gathering in Coimbatore, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, on Monday rubbished the doubts over the effectiveness of the air strikes and said that Pakistan's response to the IAF operation was enough to prove that there were casualties in Balakot. He further said that counting the number of casualties was not the job of the IAF. He, however, added that the targets were hit.

Later, while addressing a rally in Ahmedabad on Monday evening, PM Modi had said that giving a befitting reply to terrorism 'is his nature'. "Chun-chun ke hisaab lena, ye meri fitrat hai... woh agar saatven pataal mein bhi chupe hon, toh kheench kar nikaal kar maarunga (It is my nature to give a befitting reply...even if they are hidden deep under the Earth, I will pull them out and eliminate them)," he had said.