Sparring on army strikes intensifies ahead of Modi's UP visit

The slugfest between political parties in Uttar Pradesh over the recent strikes against terrorist camps across the Jammuj & Kashmir border continued on Monday, a day ahead of the prime minister's visit to Lucknow for marking Dussehra.

The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been attacking each other after Rahul Gandhi’s recent 'khoon ki dalali' (trading in blood) jibe against the pm. Since then, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have joined the war of words.

State chief minister Akhilesh Yadav endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s barb against Narendra Modi, the PM. “He must have given it a thought,” he told reporters in Lucknow when asked. The CM also took a dig at Modi, that if there were polls taking place in Bihar, the premier would have gone there, too.

“There should be no politics over a festival. We hope he will give something for UP,” said Yadav.

The BJP has already announced its plan to take the border strikes to the people. The PM is expected to highlight the issue in his speech. The BJP will use him in the poll-bound state as a major vote catcher.

The Congress downplayed Akhilesh Yadav's remark, saying the SP, BSP and BJP were all playing divisive politics over issues of caste and religion. Party communications chief Randeep Surjewala said Rahul through his recent 'kisan yatra' had given a comprehensive development model for UP.

He also rejected suggestions that the party might join with the SP for the assembly polls early next year. “We will fight on our own strength,” said Surjewala.

The Congress further attacked the BJP for playing politics over the border strikes. “The BJP is projecting Modi as Lord Ram in UP over the recent surgical strikes, as if the army played no role. The PM and (BJP chief) Amit Shah must apologise for politicising the sacrifice of soldiers,” said Surjewala.

Joining the issue, BSP chief Mayawati said instead of taking credit for the strikes, the BJP should honour the army. Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad also hailed the army for what it had done. “BJP is falsely trying to take credit for the army's brave acts," he told reporters in Patna.