Ashok Gehlot criticises BJP for publicising surgical strikes

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has criticised BJP for "publicising" and "politicising" last week's cross-border surgical strikes by the Indian Army across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a series of tweets, Gehlot said: "Surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army across the border in POK were applauded and supported by the entire nation, including Congress party. But now BJP has begun to publicise and politicise the surgical strikes, which is wrong. They have not given any proof of the strikes fanning speculation in a section of national and international media, about the authenticity of it all."

Under the Congress-led UPA government too, cross border surgical strikes were conducted but Congress party never publicized it nor took credit for the same, Gehlot said.

"Now when the BJP has politicised the whole issue, they must come out with the evidence regarding surgical strikes and clear the air."

Gehlot said if the government cannot make the videos public for security reasons, they must at least show them to the leaders of main opposition parties.

If the BJP-led NDA government gives evidence then Pakistan's false propaganda would be exposed too. Government must reveal the truth in the interest of the nation, he said.