Arvind Kejriwal says he supported govt on surgical strikes, accuses BJP of playing politics

In a rare gesture, Arvind Kejriwal yesterday "saluted" PM Narendra Modi for the surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC.

Jodhpur: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticism and said that the Aam Aadmi Party believes that surgical strikes did take place.

The AAP leader further accused the BJP of playing politics over the anti-terror surgical strike and asked why was the party "scared" when he had only asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to counter the false propaganda by Pakistan.

Kejriwal told reporters that in his video message yesterday, he had only appealed to the Prime Minister to give a befitting reply.

"Pakistan is spreading false propaganda on surgical strikes and is telling the international media that no surgical strikes took place. The Prime Minister should give Pakistan a befitting reply," Kejriwal told reporters here.

"We all know that surgical strikes were conducted. In my video, I had appealed to the Prime Minister that we all will have to give Pakistan a befitting reply over its propaganda on surgical strikes.”

"If I said that we have to counter Pakistan's false propaganda then why is the BJP so rattled and scared? We all have to counter Pakistan's propaganda and we should all, irrespective of the party, strengthen PM's hands in this," Kejriwal said.

"We all support the Prime Minister in this endeavour," he said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is on a short visit to Jodhpur.

"We will support whatever steps he (PM) takes (on exposing Pakistan's propaganda)," he said.

In a rare gesture, Kejriwal yesterday "saluted" Modi for the surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads across the LoC.

At the same time, he had urged the Centre to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan and international media, but BJP alleged that Kejriwal had in the garb of his statement questioned the Army's assertion on surgical strike and insulted the armed forces.

Claiming that Kejriwal "sought proof" on the anti-terror operation, the BJP asked him not to belittle the armed forces by getting influenced by Pakistani "propaganda".

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

Kejriwal later retorted: "I am unhappy. Ravi Shankar ji is saying I am playing politics. Am I playing politics or they?"

Senior AAP leader Ashutosh said Pakistan is insulting 'Bharat Mata' and the Indian Army through its propaganda, but BJP is settling score with Kejriwal.

"I am amazed that Ravi Shankar Prasad instead of unmasking Pak Propaganda is questioning AK. Shows BJP's bankruptcy of ideas," Ashutosh tweeted.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party workers today staged a protest outside Kejriwal's residence accusing him of a pro-Pakistan stance on the recently conducted surgical strikes by the Indian Army. They demanded his resignation.

Hundreds of BJP supporters, led by Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, gathered outside the Civil Lines residence of the Chief Minister and raised slogans against him.

(With Agency inputs)