Joining the Congress in coming down on the Centre over the 'politicization' of the recent surgical strike, the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for misusing the covert operation by the Indian Army for political gains.
Taking to Twitter, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury asserted that it was "despicable" to see an Indian Army operation being misused for political gains in rallies and on election posters of the BJP.
"Lines deliberately being blurred between ruling political party, its fountainhead, and Central govt. India far bigger than their PR machine," he said in a series of tweets, while posting an article about banners put up by BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh thanking the Centre and the Indian Army for the strong retaliation along the LoC.
The hoarding in UP garnered massive outrage in the political fraternity as the opposition came down heavily on the Centre over the development.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah tweeted, "And some people will lecture others about politicising the army action all the while turning a blind eye to hoardings like these that sprout. No reward for guessing that this one is in UP. For the BJP and sections of the shouting brigade it is always do as we say, don't do as we do."
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashutosh did not mince words and response saying, "Look who is getting such hoardings put up and who is doing politics over 'surgical strike'. People are watching every thing."
Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar took a pot-shot on politicians demanding proof of the Indian Army's surgical strike in Pakistan's terror launch pads has said there are "some politicians who don't have any 'maryada' (decorum) at all".
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"The way they are questioning and bringing down the gallantry of the country's brave jawans, there are some politicians who don't have 'maryada' at all," said Parrikar. "I was hurt and wanted to reply them, but being the Defence Minister I too have to follow some 'maryada'," said Parrikar.
Meanwhile, an all out war has been waged between the Congress and the BJP over the surgical strike, where both parties have been vehemently accusing each other of going against the nations' interests.
Taking on Rahul Gandhi for his "dalali" diatribe directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah yesterday 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.
"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.
Targeting the Prime Minister over the surgical strikes, the Congress vice-president on Thursday 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.
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.