Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal blames BJP of playing politics over surgical strikes

Rejecting BJP's criticism, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused it of playing politics over the anti-terror surgical strike and said why was the party "scared" when he had only asked the Prime Minister to counter the false propaganda by Pakistan.

Maintaining that Aam Aadmi Party believes that surgical strikes did take place, Kejriwal said that in his video message yesterday he had only appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a befitting reply.

In a rare gesture, Kejriwal has yesterday "saluted" Modi for the surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC. At the same time, he had urged the Centre to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan and international media, but BJP alleged that Kejriwal had in the garb of his statement questioned the Army's assertion on surgical strike and insulted the armed forces.

"I have supported the Prime Minister, applauded the army. I only said that Pakistan is spreading false propaganda in the world that surgical strikes did not happen. We all believe that surgical strikes took place," Kejriwal said today.

"Pakistan is spreading the propaganda across the world and international media is running this that surgical strikes did not take place. I had only appealed to the PM that a befitting reply should be given to Pakistan.

"If I said that we have to counter Pakistan's false propaganda then why is the BJP so rattled and scared? We all have to counter Pakistan's propaganda and we should all, irrespective of the party, strengthen PM's hands in this," Kejriwal said.

Claiming that Kejriwal "sought proof" on the anti-terror operation, the BJP asked him not to belittle the armed forces by getting influenced by Pakistani "propaganda". At a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the AAP leader should answer whether he believed in the Indian Army or not.

Kejriwal later retorted: "I am unhappy. Ravi Shankar ji is saying I am playing politics. Am I playing politics or they?" Senior AAP leader Ashutosh said Pakistan is insulting 'Bharat Mata' and Indian army through its propaganda, but BJP is settling score with Kejriwal. "I am amazed that Ravi Shankar Prasad instead of unmasking Pak Propaganda is questioning AK. Shows BJP's bankruptcy of ideas," Ashutosh tweeted.