Karnataka’s BJP Chief BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said the air strikes against a ‘terror camp’ in Pakistan will help the Bharatiya Janata Party win more than 22 seats in the state in the Lok Sabha elections, reported the Press Trust of India.
India on Tuesday said it had carried out “non-military preemptive” strikes on the biggest camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit across the border. The Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in which 49 CRPF personnel were killed.
“For the first time in forty years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bravery has resulted in Pakistan learning a lesson,” Yeddyurappa, who is the state BJP chief, said in Chitradurga, according to The News Minute. “When 42 of our soldiers were martyred, PM Modi had said he would extract revenge for the deaths of each soldier. With the preemptive strike, he has kept his promise.”
Yeddyurappa said the wind was “increasingly blowing in favour of the BJP” and the air strikes have led to a “pro-Modi wave” in the country. “I heard this morning [Wednesday] that our forces have shot down a Pakistani aircraft. If you see, people are rejoicing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move and they are celebrating. The impact of this strike will help BJP win more than 22 seats in the state,” he said. The state has 28 seats in the Lok Sabha.
State Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao termed Yeddyurappa’s statement “disgusting, shameful and irresponsible”. “Using the J&K situation for political benefit,” he said. “Is winning elections becoming the criteria for BJP [and] not the security of India. Is going to war a electoral strategy for the BJP.”
