The BJP on Friday accused the Congress and other Opposition parties attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Pulwama attack as parties that were “not standing with the country” for the sake of petty politics, even as India was receiving support from the rest of the world.
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Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra dismissed the Congress’ claim that Prime Minister Modi was either completely oblivious when the attack was taking place or was insensitive to continue with his engagements as “lies” and that they needn’t be responded to.
The BJP had in a tweet clarified that Prime Minister Modi’s photo-shoot at Corbett National Park, on the day of the Pulwama terror attack, took place before the incident and not after it as alleged by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP responded after Mr. Gandhi called Mr. Modi “prime time minister” alleging that he had continued shooting for a film in Uttarakhand even three hours after the news of the Pulwama terror strike came in.
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To a question about Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy’s tweet backing a boycott of “everything Kashmiri”, Mr. Patra said Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and Kashmiris are like “brothers and sisters” to other Indians.
He also attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and some other Opposition leaders, claiming that they have spoken on the same lines as Pakistan has by questioning the timing of the attack.
The neighbouring country has tried to link the attack with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in India, he said, accusing the Trinamool Congress president of making similar comments.
He referred to the UN Security Council’s strong condemnation of the terror attack and naming of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed by the global body to underscore the Modi government’s efforts to isolate Pakistan.
Mr. Patra even accused the Congress of being behind a newsmagazine article that looked at the caste- wise break-up of those who died in the attack. “What kind of articles the Congress is getting printed,” he asked, saying that Pakistan sees “casteism” and “Hindu-Muslim” issues as “faultlines” to weaken India.