Posters in UP lauding BJP for surgical strikes show everyone is politicising the issue

On Tuesday, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a press conference had lashed out at AAP and Congress for asking for proof of the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army against terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “In matters of national security, one should not raise frivolous questions just because of political rivalry,” Prasad had said in that press conference. “Politics has its own place. Please do not do or say anything which insults the Indian Army,” he had also said. Ironically, just a day later, ANI reported that this had happened in Varanasi:

Seen in Varanasi (UP), posters featuring PM Modi as Lord Rama, Pak PM as Ravana, and Arvind Kejriwal as Meghanada. pic.twitter.com/BLrPu38qCS

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2016

While the BJP is adamant on portraying the Opposition parties in a poor light for questioning the surgical strikes, it conveniently ignores this poster put up by members of its Maharashtra ally Shiv Sena. This poster not only insults the intelligence of people and turns the issue highly political, but also insults the Indian Army, something Prasad had accused Opposition parties of doing. Portraying Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Lord Ram, Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif as Ravana and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as Meghanad (son of Ravana) makes it seem like all the credit for the strike should go to Modi. If asking for proof of the strikes is an insult to the army, using the surgical strikes efficiently conducted by the Indian Army as political tool to try and get credit and thus, votes in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls is also petty politics and an insult to the army’s efforts. Moreover, it is also factually incorrect. The surgical strikes were not against Nawaz Sharif or Arvind Kejriwal or even Pakistan. The surgical strikes were extremely well-planned strikes against terrorists operating at camp across the LoC. Yet another poster allegedly put up by local BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh included a photo of PM Modi, Amit Shah and some other local leaders with the following message: “Hum tumhe maarenge aur zaroor maarenge. Lekin vo bandook bhi humaari hogi, goli bhi humaari hogi, waqt bhi hamaara hoga, bas jagah tumhaari hogi (We will definitely kill you. But the gun, bullet and time will be decided by us. Only the place will you be yours).” This poster drew a lot of flak from Opposition leaders like Omar Abdullah and AAP leader Ashutosh.

And some people will lecture others about politicising the army action all the while turning a blind eye to hoardings like these that sprout pic.twitter.com/i1hdMC9MDx

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 4, 2016

More from Politics

Is Shashi Tharoor’s breakup with Congress inevitable? ‘Naxalism will end in India by March 2026’: Amit Shah at CRPF Raising Day parade

ये है बीजेपी का फ़र्ज़ी राष्ट्रवाद । सर्जिकल आपरेशन पर वोट की फ़सल काटने की तैयारी । अभी शहीदों की चिता की राख ठंडी भी नहीं हुई है । https://t.co/QmfuxzjKeC

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) October 5, 2016

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also spoke on the surgical strikes in a rally in Agra and said, “We carried out a 100 percent perfect surgical strike. Our nation carries the heart and courage to carry this task out.” “Some ex-servicemen wrote to me and said that they are ready to fight on the border if need arises. I salute them,” Parrikar said. He also said that the work of the Defence Minister was actually being done with the support and the guidance of the Prime Minister. With inputs from agencies