You are the headline in Pak news': BJP to Kejriwal for questioning strikes

New Delhi: Attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks "seeking proof" of the anti-terror surgical strike in PoK, BJP on Tuesday asked him not to belittle the armed forces by getting influenced by Pakistani "propaganda".

At a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the AAP leader should answer whether he believed in the Indian Army or not.

Kejriwal should not "belittle the great leadership, courage and sacrifice of armed forced under the garb of seeking proof," Prasad said, and alleged that he has give the neighbouring country a chance to question the Army's assertion.

"It was most painful and unfortunate that the AAP leader was in Pakistani media headlines today as his remarks yesterday gave it a chance to question India Army's claim," the BJP leader said, wondering why he was being swayed by Pakistani propaganda.

"The question being asked in a way raises question over the action of Indian Army. I must say that. If Pakistani media is saying something, then why an India chief minister is being influenced and seeking proof.”

"Arvind Kejriwal, you are in the headlines of Pakistani newspapers. Do you know it? At a time when the whole nation is speaking in one voice, a chief minister has said something that has given Pakistani media and people a chance to question India Army action. There cannot be a more painful and unfortunate thing," he said.

"Politics is different but nothing should be said that demoralises our army and makes it feel humiliated," he said.

However, Kejriwal hit back, saying the BJP was twisting the matter. "If I say we are with government in combating terrorism and government must give befitting reply to Pakistan's false propaganda, why is BJP frustrated?" he asked.

Earlier, also attacking senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Ravi Shankar Prasad asked whether the former union minister is also joining the bandwagon in doubting capacity of the Indian Army in conducting the surgical strike.

"Is Chidambaram also joining bandwagon wittingly/unwittingly of creating doubts about capacity of our forces? Under garb of seeking proof, don't belittle great leadership, courage and sacrifice of armed forces," he added.

Asserting that today Pakistan stands completely isolated, diplomatically, strategically and in terms of international relations, Prasad asked both Kejriwal and Chidambaram not to say or do anything which brings down the morale of the Indian armed forces.

India has been successful in isolating Pakistan politically and diplomatically but Kejriwal is being guided by Pakistani media reports, Prasad said.

In a televised speech on Monday, Kejriwal had "saluted" Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ordering the surgical strike but also referred to some international media reports and an UN group observations, both of which appear to question its authenticity, as he asked the Prime Minister to "unmask the Pakistani propaganda".

Prasad said the government does not take seriously reports of "sponsored-media", apparently referring to Pakistan army's decision to ferry reporters to the LoC to bolster its claim that no surgical strike by the India army occurred there.

India, he said, had briefed ambassadors of many countries and they have taken note of the Indian Army's operation.