Mangaluru: BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi informed that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has already admitted that the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out airstrikes in Balakot, which itself is evidence for those who seek proof for the airstrike.
Speaking to the reporters at Circuit House on Sunday, March 3 Meenakshi Lekhi said, “the opposition party leaders are suspecting if the airstrike was ever conducted. JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother Maulana Ammar has already confirmed that the IAF fighter jets had attacked their camps in Paikstan’s Balakot and also informed about the damages. Those who seek evidence for the airstrike should take note of this.”
When asked about the Congress leaders’ allegation that the BJP has been politicising the airstrike, Lekhi clarified that the BJP has no need to politicise the issue.
“The Congress leaders are suspecting the bravery of our soldiers, to which the BJP is just giving answers. The Congress leaders know what the UPA government did during the Mumbai attack and how they prevented IAF from taking revenge against terrorists. In order to cover up their mistakes, they suspect the bravery of the IAF” she said.
Highlighting the importance of having rafale fighter jets Lekhi said, the opposition party leaders had questioned the need of purchasing rafale fighter jets. ” Now they have realised the need of having rafale fighter jets. In order to get political gain, they opposed the move of purchasing rafale fighter jets”, she added.
BSY’s statement may be his personal opinion, not the party’s opinion
When asked about her response over the statement of B S Yeddyurappa that IAF airstrike would help the party secure 22 seats in Karnataka in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Lekhi said that Yeddyurappa might have delivered that statement out of his own assessment. “It would be his personal opinion and there is no connection between BJP party and BSY’s statement”, she said. But she admitted that such a statement would cause a negative impact upon the party.
BJP leaders Captain Brijesh Chowta and Geethanjali Suvarna were present.
