New Delhi: Congress’s Indian overseas chief Sam Pitroda handed electoral advantage to the BJP on a platter on Friday with comments that entire Pakistan can’t be blamed for 26/11 and Pulwama terror attacks.
Launching a sharply worded attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used Pitroda’s comment to reiterate that the Congress-led UPA governments didn’t act against Pakistan despite repeated provocations and terror attacks.
Pitroda was quoted by news agency ANI as further questioning the death toll in the Balakot aistrike by the Indian Air Force in response to the Pulwama terror attack.
Speaking on the terror attack which killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, Pitroda said “Don’t know much about attacks. It happens all the time. Attack happened in Mumbai also, we could have then reacted and just sent our planes but that is not right approach. According to me that’s not how you deal with world.”
Pitroda said it was not right to “punish” Pakistan because of a few terrorists. “Eight people (26/11 terrorists) come and do something, you don’t jump on entire nation (Pakistan). Naive to assume that just because some people came here and attacked, every citizen of that nation is to be blamed. I don’t believe in that way,” Pitroda said.
“Opposition insults our forces time and again. I appeal to my fellow Indians-question Opposition leaders on their statements. Tell them- 130 crore Indians will not forgive or forget the Opposition for their antics,” wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Loyal courtier of Congress’ royal dynasty admits what the nation already knew- Congress was unwilling to respond to forces of terror. This is a New India- we will answer terrorists in a language they understand and with interest,” says PM Modi.
Modi hits out at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi over Sam Pitroda’s comment on Balakot airstrikes. He said comments of Sam Pitroda have kickstarted Pakistan National Day celebrations.
Switching to a damage-control mode after his controversial comments on Balakot airstrikes, Congress leader Sam Pitroda said as a citizen of India, he has the right to question the government.Clarifing his comment, he said, his remarks on the Pulwama terror attack and Balakot air strikes were his personal views and not those of the Congress. “I am talking as an individual. I am talking as a scientist. I believe in reason. I believe in logic. I believe in data. I don’t believe in emotions,” he added.
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