Politics on Surgical Strike: Kejriwal hits back at BJP, asks what is there to be angry about in his statement

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday hit back at Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Parsad for his remarks on the video message about the surgical strikes in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashnmir (PoK).

Speaking to mediapersons at Jodhpur airport in Rajasthan, Kejriwal said that it's BJP, and not AAP, is doing politics on Indian Army's Surgical Strikes in PoK.

“What is there to be angry about in my statement,” Kejriwal asked.

In a 3-minute long video message released by the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday,  Kejriwal had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expose Pakistan's propaganda on surgical strike.

He said in the video: "No surgical strikes, it was cross-border firing, claims Pakistan Foreign media appears to be backing Pak claim."

In the message, Kejriwal had asked the government to release footage of the strikes, saying that foreign media appears to be backing Pakistan's claim. "My blood boils to see such reports," he said.

Also read: Kejriwal praises PM Narendra Modi, salutes him for Indian Army's surgical strikes in PoK

In the reaction to Kejriwal's video message, the BJP on Tuesday criticised him and suggested him to play politics on this matter. 

Accusing Kejriwal of distrusting Indian Army, Prasad retorted: "He said that India has to give a proof for the surgical strike. I want to ask him, does he not trust the Indian army?"

"Mr Kejriwal, you need to know, today you are the headline in Pakistani media. Politics is separate but please don't do or say anything whereby our armed forces feel let down," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, adding that "nothing could be more unfortunate or painful."

"When the entire country is united, our chief minister has said something that has prompted Pakistan and its army to raise questions," sneered the senior BJP leader.

In another development on Tuesday, a group of BJP party workers also staged a protest against Kejriwal outside his residence in New Delhi.

Pakistan has denied that the strikes took place, and accused India of passing off cross-border firing as raids conducted across the de facto border.

Arvind Kejriwal's video message to PM Modi: 
 

Pak PM meets Defence cheifs

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will chair two key meetings in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss surfgical strikes. First meeting, with the National Security Committee, was attended by Army Chief Raheel Sharif and DG ISI as well. 

According to reports, Pakistani NSA Nasir Janjua was scheduled to brief this meeting on India's surgical strike and Pakistan preparedness to defend its territory. The outcome of the meeting was unknown till filing of this report. 

Second meet, to be held late in the Tuesday afternoon, is reportedly for the National Action Plan which Pakistan has been talking about as the biggest anti-terror operation in the world. 

Rattled Pakistan looking for a counter-diplomacy after embarrassment over India's surgical strike. On Wednesday,  a joint session of the Pakistan Parliament is likely to debate the same issue and pass a joint resolution.