india

Updated: Feb 27, 2019 23:58 IST

A joint statement by opposition parties that accused the ruling BJP of politicising the sacrifices of the armed forces has drawn a sharp comeback from the ruling coalition. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the allegation was baseless and sent a wrong message. “What does this show… That the country is not together,” the minister said at a media conference.

“Who is happy (with the joint statement)? Pakistan, its army and its media,” Javadekar said.

He was responding to a statement from leaders of 21 opposition political parties, read out by Congress president Rahul Gandhi before television cameras, which condemned the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, showered praises on armed forces but targeted the BJP for “blatant politicisation” of the sacrifices made by the jawans.

In a series of tweets, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley urged opposition parties to introspect.

“Please introspect - “Your ill advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case,” Jaitley concluded, calling upon all political parties to speak in one .voice.

My appeal to India’s opposition - "Let the country speak in one voice". Please introspect - "Your ill advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case". — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 27, 2019

“The Cross Border terror attack in Pulwama was a reality. The Balakot Operation was India’s Anti- Terror pre-emptive strike to defend its Sovereignty,” he said.

Jaitley wondered that when the whole nation had spoken in one voice, then why is “India’s opposition alleging that the government is politicising our Anti-Terror Operations”.

The opposition statement came after an over-120 minute meeting of 21 political parties in the Parliament’s annexe.

Hitting back at Jaitley, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP-led central government required “real introspection.”

“Entire opposition stood as one backing the armed forces & the Govt. Still, Amit Shah & entire BJP resorted to credit-seeking for the sacrifice of our martyrs & indulged in blaming the Congress provocatively,” Surjewala tweeted.

Also read: ‘Blatant politicisation of sacrifices made by armed forces’: 21 oppn parties