Kejriwal never asked for 'proof' on surgical strike: AAP hits back at BJP

Asserting that Arvind Kejriwal never asked for proof on the surgical strike carried by the Indian Army in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for launching an unwarranted attack on the Delhi Chief Minister and re-iterated the latter's appeal to expose the propaganda being spread by Pakistan against India and the army.

Speaking to ANI here, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh asserted that the Delhi Government was not playing politics over the covert operation carried out by the army, adding that they saluted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold steps, despite all their differences with the Centre.

"Since the past four, five days Pakistan is trying to insult the Indian Army through the international media and is belittling the sacrifice of our soldiers. The Prime Minister must give a firm response. The AAP stands with the Prime Minister and the army during national crisis," he said.

Reacting to the latest assault launched by the BJP on Kejriwal, where they have accused him of belittling India's security forces by demanding proof for the strike, Ashutosh emphasised that nowhere in the video message by the Chief Minister did he ask for proof.

"He has clearly said in his video that he supports Prime Minister Modi in this matter, even though the latter on countless occasions has tried to destabilise the Delhi Government. How can they (BJP) have more faith on the Pakistan media and not a patriot (Kejriwal) from their own country?" he said.

Stating firmly that the AAP has never asked for video evidence, he added that all they want is the Centre to give a strong response to the dirty propaganda being spread by Pakistan against India.

AAP's response comes after the BJP today hit out at Kejriwal for urging the government to "expose Pakistan's propaganda" on the surgical strikes last week across the Line of Control.

"I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal whether he believes in the extraordinary valour of our Army or not in conducting surgical strike? If yes, then why are you (Arvind Kejriwal) getting influenced by the false propaganda of Pakistan? Why is he swayed by alleged false propaganda asking proof to be given," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

"Today you (Arvind Kejriwal) are the headline news in Pakistan media. nothing sadder or more unfortunate," he added.

Yesterday in a video message, the Delhi Chief Minister took a turn from his usual attacking stance on the Centre and hailed Prime Minister Modi's "decisiveness" to act against Islamabad with a surgical strike and called on a latter to now wage a war against the 'dirty propaganda' being spread by Pakistan against India.

"19 jawans lost their lives in Uri and the Indian Army took revenge for that last week and carried out surgical strikes in terror launch pads. I have 100 disagreements with the Prime Minister on several issues, but I salute the will power shown by him in this matter," Kejriwal said.