The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah has stated that “over 250’ terrorists” were killed in the Balakot air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) last week in Pakistan.
Speaking at an election rally on Sunday in Ahmedabad, the BJP president stated that “under Modi’s leadership”, the air strikes took place on the “13th day” after the Pulwama terror strike that had killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on February 14.
With the BJP president stating this figure, he becomes the first leader of the ruling party to do so, though the government has not offered any official figure.
Although the BJP has not admitted to politicising the air strikes against the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed which had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack, Amit Shah spoke at the gathering stating that it was “Narendra Modi’s will power” which had made enemies change their stance – they no longer “beheaded” or “insulted” Indian soldiers but returned them “within 24 hours”, referring to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was returned by the Pakistan within two days after his MiG-21 was shot down in the neighbouring country.
Attacking Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav for seeking “details” of the air strike, Amit Shah added that these queries had “brought a smile to Pakistan’s face”.
The BJP president also stated that they Opposition leaders “should keep quiet” even if “they cannot support the armed forces”. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also criticised the Opposition for “doing everything to make the Opposition happy”.
