Oppn questioning armed forces' assertion on air strike for cheap politics: Shah

Hitting back at the opposition, BJP chief Amit Shah said here Saturday that those who did not have the courage to give a befitting response to terrorists and avenge the killing of soldiers when in power were raising doubts on the recent air strike for "cheap politics" and their statements have made Pakistan happy.

"The armed forces are saying in a press conference that we have conducted an airstrike and eliminated scores of terrorists. Can anyone have doubts about it. You should desist from such cheap politics," he said addressing the BJP's 'Vijay Sankalp' motorbike rally.

Elections should be about making India stronger in every sphere, uplift of the poor and giving Pakistan a strong response, and not about fulfilling the wish of a "family" to make its "prince" the prime minister, Shah said, targeting the Congress leadership.

Amid cheers from the crowd, Shah praised Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Air Force, saying he came back to India after shooting down Pakistan's F-16 fighter plane,
"They did not have the courage to give a befitting response to Pakistan. It is Narendra Modi who has fulfilled this aspiration of the country men."
Taking pot-shots at Rahul Gandhi, Shah said, "What should be the issues in elections? Should elections be about someone growing up and wishing to become prime minister? Or some family wanting its prince to sit on the throne?"
Exuding confidence that Modi would become prime minister again, Shah said, "The BJP clearly thinks that elections should be held for the welfare of 50 crore poor, to speed up and strengthen the economy, to make the country stronger and give a befitting reply to Pakistan."
Claiming that Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee asked whether the air strike actually took place and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav "sought inquiry into Pulwama attack", Shah said, "There should be a limit to vote-bank politics."