Home Minister M B Patil has condemned leaders for playing politics over the sacrifice of army personnel.

Speaking to mediapersons at Hubballi airport on Sunday, Patil said soldiers do not belong to BJP, Congress or any political party. They serve India and its people and politicians should not make statements that diminish the supreme sacrifice the men in uniform make while securing the country.

He also disapproved the statements made by Minister Priyank Kharge and Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal, who demanded proof of India’s air strikes on terror hideouts in Pakistan.

“It is a sensitive issue and no one should ask for proof. We trust our Indian Air Force,” he said, and added that Congress leaders had not asked for proof. But they might have asked only for the dossier about the air strikes, which the Indian government has prepared to present before the world to show.

He said it was BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa who made the air strike into a political issue for his party’s electoral success.

“I have video proof of what Yeddyurappa had said, and now he is backtracking from it,” he said, and added that no leader should politicise the issue.

Rao seeks clarification

The Union government should place clear information before the people on the air strikes, instead of trying to shut people’s mouths, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

“We trust the Defence ministry. But there are reports that 300 ultras, including Masood Azhar died. There should be clarity in this regard,” Rao told reporters in Vijayapura.