The BJP on Wednesday rejected the Opposition's charge of its "blatant politicisation of the armed forces' sacrifices" as "baseless" and said that such allegations help Pakistan, as their media is using this against India.
"The Opposition's allegations are baseless. There is no politicisation on the issue and we don't even wish to. But did the opposition ever thought that how their statement can be misused? Their statement has become news for Pakistani media," Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told a press conference.
He said such statements by Opposition leaders sends the message that the country is not united.
"Pakistan, the Pakistani army and the Pakistani media is happy with the statement of 21 Opposition parties. Such statements create trouble. The opposition should think whether their remarks are appropriate or not," he said.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Union Minister Arun Jaitley also hit out at the Opposition, and that their “ill advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case”.
“The whole nation has spoken in one voice. Why, then is India’s opposition alleging that the Government is politicising our Anti-Terror Operations,” he said.
The Cross Border terror attack in Pulwama was a reality. The Balakot Operation was India’s Anti- Terror preemptive strike to defend its Sovereignty.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 27, 2019
The whole nation has spoken in one voice. Why, then is India’s opposition alleging that the Government is politicising our Anti-Terror Operations.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 27, 2019
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
On Wednesday, representatives of 21 opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC and CPI(M), condemned the ruling BJPs "blatant politicisation" of the sacrifices of the armed forces.
In a joint statement, they "expressed deep anguish over the blatant politicisation of sacrifices made by the armed forces by leaders of the ruling party."
"National security must transcend narrow political considerations," they said, adding the Prime Minister has, regrettably, not convened an-all party meeting as per the established practice in our democracy.
They also condemned the dastardly Pulwama terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored JeM and lauded the action taken by the IAF against the terrorist camp on Tuesday and praised the Indian Armed Forces for their valour and bravery. "The meeting paid homage to our martyrs and expressed solidarity with our Armed Forces in crushing the menace of terrorism," the statement said.
With IANS inputs