Opposition, govt accuse each other of politicising India-Pakistan tension

With elections round the corner, a meeting of leaders of 21 opposition parties here to discuss the developments in the wake of India’s action against Pakistan took a political turn when they condemned the NDA government of politicising the issue, leading Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to allege that their “ill-advised” statement is being used by the neighbouring country against India.

Opposition parties, at a meeting called on Wednesday, lauded the action taken by the Indian Air Force on the terror camps in Pakistan but condemned the Centre for politicising the issue. Leaders of 21 political parties, including the Congress, TMC, NCP, TDP, BSP, DMK, RJD and others, gathered in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the situation following the Pulwama attack and India’s action on Pakistan. All the political parties felt the prime minister should have convened an all-party meeting as per the established practice in a democracy.

“The politicisation of the armed force actions is not good for even Modi,” West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is learnt to have said.


Late evening, Jaitley issued three tweets to attack the opposition. “The Cross Border terror attack in Pulwama was a reality. The Balakot Operation was India’s Anti- Terror preemptive strike to defend its Sovereignty. The whole nation has spoken in one voice. Why, then is India’s opposition alleging that the Government is politicising our Anti-Terror Operations. My appeal to India’s opposition.“Let the country speak in one voice”. Please introspect – ‘Your ill advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case’,” Jaitley said.