Bengaluru, Apr 5 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stoked a controversy Friday, claiming a retired military officer had told him in 2017 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would create a ‘story of a conflict between India and Pakistan’ and ‘mislead’ the people to seek votes.
His remarks invited a furious reaction from the BJP, which said the Chief Minister had committed ‘treason’ by not disclosing the information beforehand.
“Two years ago a retired military officer had told me Note down my words that before the Lok Sabha election a story of conflict between India and Pakistan will be created and this man (Narendra Modi) will again mislead the people of India to seek votes.
He had told me two years ago itself,” Kumaraswamy claimed at an election rally at Koppa in Chikkamagaluru.
He said BJP was seeking votes in the name of the security of the nation, but questioned whether it meant that there was no security in the nation for the past 70 years.
Kumaraswamy appealed to the people not to rely on BJP.
“Dont trust them (BJP). I ask you whether there were any bomb explosions when a Kannadiga (his father H D Deve Gowda) was the Prime Minister. Did any soldier die during his tenure?” Kumaraswamy asked.
Coming down heavily on Kumaraswamy’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Go Madhusudan told PTI that the chief minister has committed ‘treason’ by not disclosing the Pulwama ploy despite having knowledge before hand.
“Why did not he tell the government if he had information in advance? Its sedition. Is it the responsibility of soldiers alone to protect the nation and not the politicians?” said Madhusudan.
He demanded that the chief minister reveal the name of the military officer who tipped him two years ago.
The February 14 Pulwama terror attack claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.
Following this, the Indian Air Force had struck terror camps at Balakot, destroying them.
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