The BJP on Wednesday rejected as "baseless" the opposition's charge of its "blatant politicisation of the armed forces' sacrifices" and said such allegations help Pakistan as their media is using this against India.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley urged the opposition parties to introspect over their joint statement in which they expressed their deep anguish over the "blatant politicisation of the sacrifices of the armed forces" by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a series of tweets, Jaitley said that the "ill-advised" statement was being used by Pakistan to bolster its case.
"The Cross Border terror attack in Pulwama was a reality. The Balakot Operation was India's anti-terror pre-emptive 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," he said.
Union Minister and party leader Prakash Javadekar also told a press conference earlier that the opposition's allegations were baseless.
"There is no politicisation of the issue and we don't even wish to. But did the opposition ever thought how their statement can be misused? Their statement has become news for Pakistani media," he said.
He said such statements by opposition leaders sends a message that the country is not united.
"Pakistan, the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani media is happy with the statement of 21 opposition parties. Such statements create trouble. The opposition should think whether their remarks are appropriate or not," he said.
Leaders of major opposition parties, who met here, issued a joint statement later.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala hit back at the Jaitley and said it is the BJP and its leadership which require real introspection.
"Entire opposition stood as one backing the armed forces and the government. Still, Amit Shah & entire BJP resorted to credit seeking for the sacrifice of our martyrs & indulged in blaming the Congress provocatively," he said in a tweet.
--IANS
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