‘BJP politicising security issues’

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Press trust of India
Mumbai, Oct 5: Unfazed by the criticism over his questioning of the surgical strikes carried out by the army, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam Wednesday accused the BJP of “politicising” national security issues and indulging in theatrics to gain mileage in upcoming elections. “BJP’s political tamasha over national security is on. Raksha Mantri (Manohar) Parrikar to b felicitated by UP #BJP. Elections to be held there next yr,” he said in a tweet. He also questioned Parrikar’s visit to poll-bound states.
“Why Defence Minister Parrikar in visiting states like Goa, UP and Punjab where elections are very near? Why is he not going to Bihar? He is only going to states (where elections are near) and is being felicitated with flowers, garlands, banners and posters,” Nirupam said. “On the one hand, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu says there should not be discussions over surgical strikes, but on the other, his partymen and leaders are engaged in a political campaign to encash on the surgical strikes and that’s what I am strongly opposing,” he said.
“The truth is that BJP is extracting political mileage over issues of national security which no other party has ever did. BJP has been involved in politicisation of defence activities… and being a citizen of the country, I have every right to ask these questions,” he said. Downplaying Nirupam’s rant, BJP said it does not want to accord any importance to his remarks. “We don’t consider fit enough to respond to a person who can stoop so low to sling mud on the Indian Army for the sake of political advantage. Therefore no comments please,” was the terse response from Madhav Bhandari, spokesperson of the BJP.
Nirupam had Tuesday raised questions on the veracity of the surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC, suggesting it was “fake”. He also went on to demand “some evidence” to prove that the strikes did take place and accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of indulging in politics over the issue. The Congress had Tuesday dissociated itself from Nirupam’s remarks, saying it has full faith in the armed forces even as it asked the government to use “all information and evidence” at its disposal to call “Pakistan’s bluff” and expose its false propaganda.