Tie Congress leader to fighter jet during next Pak operation: Gujarat BJP minister

Surat: Gujarat minister Ganpat Vasava Thursday hit out at those seeking proof of the IAF air strike in Balakot, and said if India carries out a similar action against Pakistan in future, a Congress leader should be tied to a fighter jet with a camera to record the happening. Vasava was addressing a public gathering at Mangrol town in Surat district. "Next time, if we have to do something in Pakistan, a Congress leader should be tied to a fighter jet along with a camera," the forest minister said. "If he comes back (alive), we will have the recording as the proof. But if he falls into that country, everything would be over for him," he added. Attacking those seeking proof of the air strike, he said, "See their cheap mentality. They are not ready to believe what our armed forces have to say." Vasava, a prominent tribal leader, was also the Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly earlier. His statements come in the midst of escalating politics over the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) operation in Pakistan against terror camps as well as the number of casualties inflicted during the strike. The opposition has been asking the government to reveal the official death count in the strike, conducted days after the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel died.