The Modi government had so far publicly acknowledged two military actions against Pakistan, which involved crossing the LoC or the border, in response to the Uri attack in 2016 and the Pulwama attack last month.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh surprised many on Saturday, 9 March, by indicating that there was a third incident involving cross-border strikes. While speaking at a rally in Mangalore, Karnataka, Singh said:
“Pichle paach varsho mein, teen baar apni seema ke bahar jaa kar hum logon ne air strike kar kaamyaabi haasil ki hai. Do ki jaankari aapko dunga, teesri ki nahi dunga. [In the last five years, India has crossed its borders on three occasions to conduct air strikes. I’ll tell you about two of them (Uri and Pulwama), but will not give you the details about the third one.]”Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Karnataka
Singh further said that the Indian government had given a strong message to Pakistan after the Pulwama attack and added that Pakistan would have to pay a huge price if it continued to promote terrorism.
“The country will not provoke anyone, but will not leave anyone if provoked.”Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Karnataka
He also said that no force in the country could deter the BJP from fighting against terrorism and the party would come back to power at the Centre with renewed force.
Owaisi’s Dig at Rajnath’s Comment
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi took a dig at Home Minister Singh’s statement and asked if the third strike was conducted when the prime minister had visited former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
In a tweet, Owaisi said, “Sir Rajnath Singh is it when @PMOIndia went uninvited to Nawaz Sharif house for a wedding ceremony? Just asking or please (sic).”
IAF Pilots on a Targeted Mission: Singh
Earlier, on Friday, the home minister said the IAF pilots were on a targeted mission to destroy terrorist facility in Pakistan and “did not go on any pleasure trip or to shower petals”.
He said Pakistan's desperation after the air strike in Balakot was reasonable, but it is sad that a few people in India are in a shock and asking for proof of its success.
“IAF pilots had targeted terrorist facility based on credible intelligence input to destroy them. The pilots had not entered Pakistan for any pleasure trip or to shower petals.”Singh told a party meeting in Beawar town of Ajmer district
IAF pilots have made Pakistan realise that it would have to pay a heavy price if the terrorists operate from its land, the senior BJP leader said.
"Warriors don't count people killed in war. But the Congress and its friends have a misleading and dangerous stance. They give respect to terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Hafiz Saeed by calling them Osama Ji and Hafiz Ji," Singh said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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