'Oppn trying to get mileage from airstrikes'

BJP does not have any intention to gain political mileage out of the airstrikes carried out in Balakot in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force (IAF), BJP National Spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said.

“But it is the opposition, despite being aware of the sensitiveness of the operation, which is trying to extract political mileage from the airstrikes,” she stressed while addressing the media at Circuit House here, on Sunday.

Lekhi said Congress leaders know how the then UPA government acted irresponsibly during the Mumbai attack and how they prevented IAF from taking revenge from terrorists.

“The Congress leaders in order to cover up their mistakes are suspecting the bravery of the IAF,” she said.

The BJP spokesperson said that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had already admitted that IAF carried out airstrikes in Balakot and highlighted the damages. Those who seek evidence of the airstrike should take note of this, she added.

Highlighting the importance of having Rafale fighter jets, Lekhi said the opposition party leaders had questioned the need to purchase the jets. “Now they have realised
the need to have Rafale fighter jets. For sheer political gain, they had opposed the move of purchasing Rafale jets,” she said.

On BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa’s statement that IAF airstrike would help the party secure 22 seats in Karnataka in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Lekhi said, “Yeddyurappa may have delivered that statement out of his own assessment. It would be his personal opinion and has no connection between BJP party and BSY.”

But she admitted that such a statement would cause a negative impact on the party’s image.

BJP leaders Captain Brijesh Chowta and Geethanjali Suvarna were also present.