AAP accuses BJP of demeaning Indian army might, seeks apology

The AAP on Thursday accused the BJP of "demeaning" the Indian Army's might and demanded an apology from the party over Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and party spokesperson G.V.L. Narsimha Rao's statements "defaming" the army.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh sought an apology from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that AAP will approach Delhi Police to register a complaint against Parrikar and Rao over their statements.

"We demand an apology from BJP over Parrikar's and Rao's statements defaming Indian Army. Our Delhi unit chief Dilip Pandey along with other leaders will soon approach Delhi Police to register a complaint against both the BJP leaders over their statements," Singh said at a press conference here.

After the September 29 surgical strikes, Parrikar on October 1 compared the Indian Army with Lord Hanuman of Ramayana, saying as the deity was reminded of his strength before going to Lanka, "I reminded our army of their powers and they did the job brilliantly".

Singh said the BJP spokesperson Rao on Wednesday questioned and demeaned the might of the Indian Army by allegedly saying that it (army) did not have the power (to conduct such surgical strikes) for 70 years which it has now acquired (during BJP government).

Singh said the Indian Army has a glorious past of defeating Pakistan in 1948, 1965, 1971 and in 1999. It conducted surgical strikes nine times in 15 years and killed Pakistani terrorists and soldiers.

"Both the BJP leaders demeaned the Indian Army through their statements. I want to tell the BJP that do not neglect the glorious history of the Indian Army for your own political benefits.

"Do not insult the martyrdom of martyr Captain Vikram Batra, martyr Abdul Hamid and other soldiers. Do not insult Indian army's glorious past of 70 years," Singh added.

Hitting out at Parrikar, Singh said: "Defence Minister is busy in attending welcome ceremony in Agra in Uttar Pradesh at a time when he is required to be in Delhi as shelling is going on at the border."

"BJP supporters are busy in poll politics in UP. BJP is putting up hoardings for its self glorification to take advantage of the surgical strike."

On Kejriwal's video message asking the government to counter Pakistan's denial of the strikes, Singh said that BJP leaders started making baseless comments against Kejriwal even without understanding the feelings and the entire issue.

"Kejriwal hailed Modi and Indian Army for the surgical strikes in his video message," he said.

"BJP leaders' sole aim is to anyhow target and insult AAP. We never asked PM or the central government to release the video of the surgical strike or give proof," he clarified.

--IANS

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