While the opposition parties have supported the IAF strike in Pakistan's Balakot, they have also sought evidence to back claims made by government sources on the number of terrorist casualties. This reminds us of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reaction to Pak attack on Indian airfields during the 1971 war.
Amid conflicting reports on casualties in anti-terror airstrike in Pakistan’s Balakot last week, the opposition has questioned claims made by the ruling party leaders, including BJP president Amit Shah, prompting the government to hit back.
Chun chun ke hisab lena fitrat hain, ghar mein ghus kar marenge: PM Modi's direct warning to terrorists
On Monday, Amit Shah claimed that 250 terrorists were killed in the Indian Air Force's air strike in Pakistan's Balakot while the IAF chief BS Dhanoa himself refused to give any number. On this, opposition parties attacked the ruling party asking how the BJP president got such top secret information.
While the opposition parties have supported the Air Force’s strike in the enemy territory, they have also sought evidence to back claims made by government sources on the number of terrorist casualties.
1. 1971 War
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India's airstrikes in Balakot following Pulwama terror attack took the world by surprise. However, this is not the first time that the tension between India and Pakistan have reached this level. The two countries have fought three full-blown war, including one in 1971 when India successfully broke Pakistan into two, giving birth to Bangladesh.
2. United message
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It is worth reminding our political leaders how dignified and united the message of all parties was in 1971 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was in power. After Pakistan Army's surrender in Bangladesh, the then Prime Minister received a standing ovation in the Indian Parliament.
Amidst the bitter war of words between the government and opposition, @Palkisu compares how the political class behaved during India's previous wars. Also, is there a link between election results and wars? pic.twitter.com/36lQbmtFEp
— WION (@WIONews) March 4, 2019
3. Vajpayee's message to Indira
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Pakistani Air Force’s attack on airbases and radar installations of the IAF on December 3, 1971, marked the formal beginning of the Indo-Pakistan War, created a situation of national emergency. It was a critical moment. At the time of crisis, one of the opposition leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then a young MP of the Jana Sangh, declared full cooperation of the opposition to the government even if it meant giving more power to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In a statement, Vajpayee said, “The Prime Minister must now lead the country to total victory over the enemy. If the government needed to secure any more powers to handle the situation, this party would not hesitate to accord the fullest cooperation.”
4. Indian airstrike in Balakot: Opposition seeks evidence
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Indian Air Force carried last month strikes in Pakistani territory targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp. The JeM, led by terrorist Masood Azhar, claimed the Pulwama terror attack on security forces in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
Seeking to put the government on the back foot, opposition parties Monday latched on to BJP chief Amit Shah's claim of 250 casualties in the Indian Air Force's air strike in Pakistan's Balakot to ask how he got such top secret information.
The Congress asked the government what was the basis of Shah's claim and why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not giving details of the casualties.
IAF chief B S Dhanoa Monday said in Coimbatore that the air force doesn't count human casualties and it was for the government to provide details on the terrorists killed. The air force doesn't count human casualties, Dhanoa said.
While there has been no official statement on the number of deaths, government sources had earlier said up to 350 terrorists were killed, Shah Sunday put the toll at 250.
5. 'Please use common sense': Modi hits back
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Asking opposition parties to use common sense, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday slammed them for questioning his statement that the presence of Rafale fighter jets would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerial engagement with Pakistan.
The political dogfight over Modi's remarks escalated with the Congress demanding an apology from him for trying to portray the Indian Air Force as being weaker without Rafale.
"I said if Rafale was acquired in time it would have made a difference (during the February 27 dogfight), but they(opposition parties) say Modi is questioning our air force strike," Modi said, addressing a gathering in Jamnagar in Gujarat.
"Please use common sense. What I said was if we had Rafale at the time (of aerial dogfight), then none of our fighter jets would have gone down and none of theirs saved," he added. India lost one MiG 21 jet during the fierce dogfight in which one F-16 warplane of Pakistan Air Force(PAF) was also shot down.
"If they(opposition) don't understand me what can I do. They have their own limitations," he told the audience during his 40-minute speech rendered in Gujarati.
