Clarify whether Pak govt and its military not linked to terror attacks in India: Shah to Rahul

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi should clarify whether his party believes that Pakistan government and its military are not linked with the terror attacks that occur in India and demanded an apology from him for Sam Pitroda's remark on Pulwama terror attack.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi should clarify whether the ghastly Pulwama terror attack, which shook the nation, was an ordinary incident. Does the Congress believe that terror attacks that have been taking place in this country have no link with Pakistan government and military? If a link is there, then who is guilty?" Shah said addressing the media here.

His remark comes after Pitroda on Friday said, "Don't know much about attacks. It happens all the time. The attack happened in Mumbai also, we could have then reacted and just sent our planes, but that is not the right approach. According to me, that's not how you deal with the world."

He added, "Rahul Gandhi should apologise for his remarks. He should apologise to the country, to the soldiers, to the families of soldiers who have lost their lives."

Sharpening his attack on the Congress, Shah asked Rahul to explain if they treat an attack like the one in Pulwama, which claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel, as a routine.

Shah said, "Congress president should explain it to the nation - do you consider such heinous attack (Pulwama attack) a routine incident? Should we not give them a befitting reply by an air strike? When terror attacks take place, when our soldiers are killed, senior Congress leaders suggest that we have a dialogue with them (Pakistan). Does the party agree with such a stance?"

Furthermore, Shah claimed that Sam Pitroda's remark has come at a time when the issue of national security has become a very important issue among the youth, and such a remark can increase tension among them.

Congress and Rahul Gandhi indulge in vote bank politics, Shah said adding that as part of his strategy, he makes people around him make statements which are aimed at vote bank politics so that he can later distance himself from them.

"However, I would like to assure you that the BJP is committed to ensuring the country's safety and is standing behind our forces," Shah added.