NCP chief Sharad Pawar slams Narendra Modi, says PM making irresponsible statements on Balakot air strike

Pune: NCP chief Sharad Pawar Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making “irresponsible” statements on the Balakot air strike and said it did not behove the PM’s stature. The Indian Air Force (IAF), after the Pulawam Terror attack, carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on 26 February. [caption id=“attachment_5332041” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Reuters[/caption] The BJP leadership is making “immature” statements on the 26 February air strike by the IAF, Pawar said addressing reporters after holding a meeting with NCP workers here. “The prime minister is making irresponsible statements in connection with the air strike. While we are saying that the issue should not be politicised, the PM is going places and giving statements that the Opposition is politicising the issue,” the former Union minister said. Pawar said, “Modi is giving statements like ‘he will do this and he will do that’, which I feel do not suit the stature of prime minister”. Such statements are not good for the country, he said. Amid BJP’s charge that Opposition parties are lowering morale of the armed forces by questioning the veracity of the air strike, the NCP chief said he never raised any question over the air force’s action. “I have always said that I have 100 per cent faith in the capabilities of our armed forces. They will never hesitate to give their lives to protect our country,” he added. Pawar said he had made it clear in the all-party meeting held in the wake of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack that this issue should not be politicised.“I remain firm on my stand,” he added. Responding to a question about BJP chief Amit Shah’s claim of 250 terrorists were killed in the air strike, Pawar said it was an “immature” statement. “I have worked in the defence ministry for some years and I know it very well that people outside the ministry never get such figures. However, the way such numbers are being presented, I feel that these leaders are showing immaturity which is not good for our country,” he said. PM Modi’s recent statement that the presence of Rafale fighters would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the 26 February aerial engagement with Pakistan, was “uncalled for”, Pawar said. “While I completely agree that if Rafale (aircraft) is there with the air force, it would have been better for us, however, that does not mean that air force has lesser capabilities. “Today, we have MiG, we also have Sukhoi (aircraft) which is equally capable. Therefore, there was no need on the part of the prime minister to make such a statement,” he said.