Former Chief Minister and Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said the the BJP would benefit from the preemptive strikes carried out in Pakistan and will help the party secure more than 22 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Yeddyurappa was referring to the preemptive airstrikes carried out by India on Wednesday in Pakistan's Balakot, which targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps.
"For the first time in 40 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bravery has resulted in Pakistan learning a lesson. When 42 of our soldiers were martyred, PM Modi had said he would extract revenge for the deaths of each soldier. With the preemptive strike, he has kept his promise," Yeddyurappa told the media in Chitradurga on Wednesday.
In an apparent attempt to politicise the issue of the airstrike, Yeddyurappa further said that a large number of people are waiting to elect BJP nominees and re-elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. He also said that that people across the country were already rejoicing over Modi's move.
Meanwhile Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa says people all over are happy about #SurgicalStrike2 and hence BJP will win 22 seats in Karnataka in the coming election (Karnataka has only 28 LS seats in all) @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/bv0SEXS9SD
— Deepa Balakrishnan (@deepab18) February 27, 2019
"I heard this morning (Wednesday) that our forces have shot down a Pakistani aircraft. If you see, people are rejoicing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move and they are celebrating. The impact of this strike will help BJP win more than 22 seats in the state," Yeddyurappa said.
Reacting to Yeddyurappa's statement, Karnataka Padesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao accused him of politicising the issue. "Most disgusting shameful irresponsible statement made by BS Yeddyurappa. Using the Jammu and Kashmir situation for political benefit. Is winning elections becoming the criteria for BJP and not the security of India. Is going to war a electoral strategy for the BJP?" Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
Most disgusting shameful irresponsible statement made by @BSYBJP.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) February 27, 2019
Using the #J&K situation for political benefit.
Is winning elections becoming the criteria for BJP & not the security of India.
Is going to war a electoral strategy for the BJP. https://t.co/G2r96RWxlO
Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party chief Siddaramaiah called Yeddyurappa's statement disgusting and accused him of trying to make political gains by hiding behind the bodies of martyred soldiers. "Hiding behind the bodies of martyred soldiers and trying to make political gains of it is shows Yeddyurappa's greed. I strngly condemn this The family members of our martyrs are still mournig for their loss and Yeddyurappa is already calculating how many seats the BJP will win. Disgusting," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet.
ಹುತಾತ್ಮರಾದ ವೀರಯೋಧರ ಶವಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಲಾಭದ ಕನಸು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರುವ @BSYBJP ಅವರ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ದುರಾಸೆಯ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಖಂಡಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಮಡಿದ ಸೈನಿಕರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಇನ್ನೂ ನಿಂತಿಲ್ಲ, ಆಗಲೇ ಸೀಟುಗಳ ಲೆಕ್ಕಾಚಾರ!
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 28, 2019
Disgusting.@narendramodi @INCKarnataka pic.twitter.com/taKLKsjg5M
Yeddyurappa's statement came soon after IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan was taken into custody by the Pakistani military on Wednesday. 12 Pakistani aircraft reportedly carried out aerial strikes from the Pakistani side of the Line of Control. Although India managed to shoot down one Pakistani F-16, the Pakistani Air Force too managed to damage a MiG-21 bison of the IAF. Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was piloting the bison ejected and landed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The Pakistani military also put out videos of Abhinandan, which India has called a violation of the Geneva Convention.
On Wednesday evening, the Indian government issued a démarche to the Pakistani High Commissioner and called the neighbouring country's display of an injured Abhinandan a vulgar act. The government also demanded that Pakistan return the IAF pilot immediately.
The day was also witness to another crash. An Mi 17 helicopter crashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam at around 10.10 am on Wednesday, which killed six persons inside the chopper.