Chose not to brag about air strikes: Modi

Hitting back at the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government chose not to brag about the air strikes in Balakot and urged political rivals not to act in a manner that will benefit Pakistan.

“After the air strikes, the Indian government chose to remain silent. The chowkidar (watchman) was wide awake,” Modi said at a rally after inaugurating the civilian terminal at the Air Force Base here.

“We displayed huge valour but remained discreet. Who woke up at 5 am and started crying ‘we have been hit’,” he asked the audience that broke into chants of ‘Modi, Modi’.

The Prime Minister said unlike previous governments which chose to remain silent after the 26/11 attack on Mumbai and other terror acts in Gujarat, Ayodhya, Delhi and Hyderabad, he chose to act.

“Why else have you elected me? Should Modi have kept silent; should Modi not show courage? Do I have your blessings,” he asked.

Modi accused the Opposition, including SP, BSP and Congress, of refusing to believe the act of valour of the Air Force and the armed forces.

“What should one do with those who refuse to believe. Pakistan will break into applause if you commit one mistake. Will you be happy then,” the Prime Minister asked.

He said the regional parties have been giving this very opportunity to Pakistan for the past 10 days.

“They are not worried about the nation. They only want to capture the government in Delhi so that they can avoid going to jail,” Modi said.

Thinning audience

However, much of the crowd -- estimated at 50,000 by police officials -- had thinned out by the time Modi began his references to the air strikes and terror attacks.

Ironically, a large section of the audience started to leave the moment Modi began to speak around 6 pm.

“I came here at 11 am, now I have to go,” said a septuagenarian refusing to be identified.