New Delhi: Union minister General V.K. Singh Thursday said the Modi government’s actions were about national security and not winning seats, in a direct rebuke to party colleague B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Singh took to Twitter to counter Yeddyurappa’s statement that the IAF strikes have created a Modi wave and will help the BJP win 22 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Yeddyurappa is a senior party leader and the state’s BJP chief.
“I beg to differ. We stand as one nation, action taken by our government is to safeguard our nation & ensure safety of our citizens, not to win a few extra seats,” he posted.
The minister also cited late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who famously said India as a nation must endure even as governments come and go.
Yeddyurappa later said he was quoted out of context.
My statement is being reported out of context. I said that ‘situation favourable for BJP’ which i am saying for last couple of months. This is not first time that i said BJP in Karnataka will win minimum 22 seats under the able leadership of Modi ji.
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) February 28, 2019
Congress leader Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP and Yeddyurappa for the comment, criticising them for politicising the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, especially given that Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan.
Shocking & disgusting to understand #BJPsPlot4Vote. It is unfortunate that @BJP4India is calculating electoral gains even before the dust has settled. No patriot shall derive such sadistic gains over soldiers' death, only a anti-nationalist can.
What will RSS say about this? pic.twitter.com/w6wAhAg6gv— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 28, 2019
The comments come a day after 21 opposition parties issued a joint statement condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “blatant politicisation” of the ongoing developments with Pakistan.
The opposition has been critical of the manner in which the BJP, including PM Modi and party president Amit Shah, have attempted to take credit for the air strikes that destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps in Pakistan.