New Delhi: The ongoing political slugfest over the Indian Army’s surgical strikes across the LoC reached a crescendo on Friday with the BJP tearing into the Congress over its vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s “khoon ki dalali” remark and the hitting back at the ruling party for using the Army to gain political mileage.
A day after Mr Gandhi’s “dalali” remark, it was Amit Shah who led the attack from the front. The BJP chief said Mr Gandhi has “crossed all limits” and “insulted the Indian Army and belittled its courageous deed.”
He said the Congress was “voicing Pakistan’s helplessness instead of joining the people’s enthusiasm over the strikes.”
Referring to the scams under UPA-II, Mr Shah quipped that the word “dalali is on Mr Gandhi’s mind as his party’s government profiteered on the Bofors, Embraer, 2G and coal block allocations.” He said, “Those doubting the strikes are anti-India.”
Rahul gets it back from BJP
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘dalali’ remark, BJP chief Amit Shah said, “Dalali is done on products. Can it be done on soldiers’ blood? Can it have a price? They destroyed the launchpads of those terror groups whose operatives your government (UPA) tried to save through a legal process.”
While Mr Shah made it clear that the Army action against Pakistan should not be politicised, he also gave a clear indication that the BJP “will go to the people” to talk about the issue. For Mr Shah, going to people over the issue “will boost the Army’s morale.”
In its assault on the Congress, the BJP got support from unexpected quarters. The AAP and the NCP joined the chorus in flaying Mr Gandhi over his ‘dalali’ remark. But the Congress remained somewhat defiant and kept pecking at the BJP.
The party fielded senior leader Kapil Sibal to counter and defend. “Somebody who has been jailed and was externed, has murder cases against him will now tell us about Rahul Gandhi’s roots,” Mr Sibal charged and defended the Congress scion.words.
Trying to justify himself, Mr Gandhi on Friday said that he has "unequivocally" supported the military action but is against the use of the Army in political posters and propaganda by the BJP.
