BJP leaders slam Pitroda's remarks on Balakot strike

Pushing the hashtag #JantaMaafNahiKaregi, Modi tweeted: "Opposition insults our forces time and again. I appeal to my fellow Indians - question Opposition leaders on their statements. Tell them - 130 crore Indians will not forgive or forget the Opposition for their antics."

"India stands firmly with our forces," he said.

"Difference between Opposition and BJP is clear. They suspect our Army, we are proud of our Army," BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted.

As Prime Minister himself pushed the hashtag #JantaMaafNahiKaregi on Twitter - it was soon used by several party leaders and Union ministers.

Modi lashed out at Congress for what he said 'kick starting' the Pakistan National Day celebrations for questioning Balakot anti-terror aerial strike and called it a 'shame'.

"The most trusted advisor and guide of the Congress president has kick-started the Pakistan National Day celebrations on behalf of ironically by demeaning India’s armed forces. Shame!," Prime Minister tweeted taking cognizance of the comments from Sam Pitroda, a known Rahul Gandhi loyalist.

Pitroda's comment incidentally came on a day the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi hosted a reception in connection of Pakistan National Day. The government officially boycotted it saying it was in protest against invitation sent to separatist Hurriyat leaders.

Sam Pitroda, Indian Overseas Congress chief, has questioned Indian Air Force actions on February 26 and said just because eight terrorists come and 'do something' - "you don’t jump on entire nation (Pakistan)".

This was to imply his endorsement to UPA regime's refusal to conduct such strikes after 2008 Mumbai siege.

Pitroda also had worked closely with the Late Rajiv Gandhi and BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley. Jaitley went on to describe him as 'guru' of the Congress president.

"Agar Guru aisa ho aur unke vichar aisa ho, toh shishya kitna Nikamma niklega aaj yeh desh ko bhukatna par raha hae (If the Guru is such, the disciple can be only a worthless one and the country is suffering this situation today)," Jaitley told reporters in presence former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who joined the saffron party here.

Prime Minister also has taken exception to remarks by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav.

"Opposition is the natural habitat of terror apologists and questioners of our armed forces. This reprehensible statement by a senior leader like Ram Gopal Ji insults all those who have given their lives in protecting Kashmir. It humiliates the families of our martyrs," Modi wrote.

Union minister Smriti Irani tweeted: "Now the Nation knows why Rahul Gandhi and UPA chose not to respond with the full might of India post 26/11. Congress sympathies with Pakistan stand exposed."

In his missive, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal wrote: "Once again Congress speaks the language of terror apologists. Time and again, they betray our jawans and insult the memories of our martyrs."

Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu was also unsparing as he wrote: "Despite all that our forces do for our country, the opposition insults them by commencing the Pakistani National Day celebrations. 130 crore citizens of India will not let this go unnoticed".

Jaitley further said Pitroda's remarks reflect the fact that the Congress party is out of touch from the sentiments of the armed forces and the people of the country.

"Even Organisation of Islamic Countries have not said the aerial strike was wrong...," he said adding the fight against terror has now emerged as an 'ideological battle' between those who want to defend India through all instruments and strategies and those who want to fight terrorism "with kid gloves and their hands tied behind them".

Image credit: Sam Pitroda page on Facebook