Taking on Rahul Gandhi for his "dalali" diatribe directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Friday hit back at the Congress vice-president, asking whether "dalali" was an appropriate word used in reference for the Indian Army and their valiant efforts in serving the nation.
Addressing a press conference, Shah hit out at Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others for politicising the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29.
"Some parties tried to question the surgical strikes that were carried out by the Army. We had, from the beginning, tried to keep the operation by the Army away from politics but these parties have shamed the soldiers by giving it a political colour, The government has tried to keep this as far from politics as possible. In fact, it was the DGMO who spoke at the press conference," said Shah.
"Who are you questioning? Are you questioning the soldiers who risked their lives? What did Arvind Kejriwal want when he asked for proof? And after his statements, Kejriwal became a trend in Pakistan. From this, it is clear his words have helped whom," he added.
"Soon after Kejriwal ji made the statement on the surgical strikes, his name started trending in Pakistan. Just want to ask Rahul Gandhi, is 'dalali' a word to refer to the Indian Army and their efforts to save the country?" he said.
Shah asserted that the entire nation, the ruling dispensation and the BJP support the Indian Army and their efforts.
"The entire nation, the Government of India, the BJP supports the Indian Army. We believe in army's bullets, not politicians' statements," he said.
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A political slugfest over the surgical strikes broke out on Tuesday with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it "fake" and Kejriwal asking the government to release the proof of the surgical strikes to counter the Pakistani propaganda against the operation.
Responding to that, Shah said, "The uproar that is happening in Pakistan is enough proof for the surgical strikes. The sceptical political parties can analyse that. People who want to have a proof should go and take analysis of what is happening in Pakistan, they will learn a lot. If the surgical strike didn't happen, why was a special session in Pakistan Parliament called? Why is the Pakistan Prime Minister constantly in Islamabad," he asked.
Targeting the Prime Minister over the surgical strikes, the Congress vice-president yesterday said, "Jo hamare jawan hain jinhone apna khoon diya hai, Jammu and Kashmir mein khoon diya hai, jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strikes kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. Yeh bilkul galat hai. (You [Modi] are hiding behind the blood of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and those who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices, which is very wrong)."
Concluding his 'Kisan Yatra' at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Gandhi called upon the Prime Minister to work for the development of people, especially farmers and army men.
"Help the farmers. Give the army a hike in the seventh pay commission, it is your responsibility and that is what you have been elected for," said Gandhi.
However, the Congress vice-president insisted that he supports the surgical strikes but will not support the use of Indian Army in political posters and propaganda.
"I fully support the surgical strikes and I have said so unequivocally, but I will not support using the Indian Army in political posters and propaganda all across the country," said Gandhi in a series of tweets.