Cong lowering morale of security forces for petty political gains: BJP

Accusing the Congress of trying to lower the morale of security forces for "petty political gains", the BJP on Tuesday said comments by the opposition party's leaders on the Balakot air strike are part of a "conspiracy" that has the blessings of Rahul Gandhi.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad seized on Congress leader Digvijay Singh's tweet, terming the Pulwama terror attack a "durghatna" (accident), to mount a stinging attack on the opposition party and allege that its senior leaders are speaking the language of Pakistan.

The Congress, in turn, accused the BJP of politicising the armed forces and said it was spreading "false propaganda" over the February 26 air strike in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Prasad also referred to comments of Congress' former ministers Kapil Sibal and P Chidambaram to claim they do not trust the Indian Army and the Air Force. No foreign country has sought evidence of the air strike, the BJP leader said, adding that Congress leaders do not believe in Indian media reports.

"It is part of a design with blessings of (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi and (UPA chairperson) Sonia Gandhi. Let the country ask them questions," the Union minister said.

He also asked the Congress not to "reduce the morale, courage and prestige of our forces" for "petty extraneous political gains".

Singh had tweeted earlier in the day, "Doubts are being raised in some international media following the 'air strike' after the Pulwama accident. This is also raising questions on our government's credibility."