West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi criticised those who question the “valour of the armed forces” and raise “questions”. Speaking at a programme in the Kala Mandir auditorium on Sunday in Kolkata, the governor recited the lines “Hamari asteen ke sanpoon, humein ab kato maat/Varna doodh pilane ki jagah maut ki dawat hogi” indicating that “snakes in our sleeves” should not bite as they will be met with death if they do, “instead of being fed by milk”.
Referring to the questions raised by the Opposition parties on “how many bombs were dropped” and “how many people were killed” in the air strike conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Pakistan’s Balakot to decimate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror cells, the governor lashed out at the critics of the Central government.
He questioned people “inside and outside the country” who have cast doubts on the success of the Balakot air strike.
Among others in the Opposition, Bengal chief minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has spoken about people’s right to know “details” of the air strike following international media reports that questioned the “loss of lives” as a result of the air strikes.
