Why Is BJP So Rattled, Says Arvind Kejriwal, Attacked On Surgical Strikes

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP attacked Arvind Kejriwal today, accusing him of "doubting the armed forces" on last week's surgical strikes across the Line of Control with his comments urging the government to "expose Pakistan's propaganda".

In response, the Delhi Chief Minister wondered: "Why is the BJP getting all rattled and scared? I only said that Pakistan should be given a munh todh (befitting) response for its propaganda."

He added that he felt "sad" at being accused of politics when he had "supported the government and the army."

Not true, said Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

"Mr Kejriwal, you need to know, today you are the headline in Pakistani media. Politics is separate but please don't do or say anything whereby our armed forces feel let down," said Mr Prasad, adding that "nothing could be more unfortunate or painful".

"When the entire country is united, one chief minister has said something that has prompted Pakistan and its army to raise questions," sneered the senior BJP leader.

The government has said that it will decide whether or when to share evidence of the strikes last Wednesday, during which troops attacked seven terror launch pads or staging areas in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Footage and stills were recorded through drones, government sources have said.

Pakistan has accused India of passing off cross-border firing as surgical strikes.

Mr Prasad said: "(Mr Kejriwal) said that India has to give a proof for the surgical strike. I want to ask him, does he not trust the Indian army?"

Mr Kejriwal, in a three-minute video yesterday, all but asked the government to release footage of the strikes, saying that foreign media appears to be backing Pakistan's claim. "My blood boils to see such reports," he said.

One of PM Modi's sharpest critics, Mr Kejriwal also commented in the video, "I may have 100 differences with the PM, but I salute him for his determination in dealing with Pakistan."