Responding to a question on the ‘politicisation’ of the Balakot airstrikes by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union Minister Nitin Gadkari accused the media of sensationalising what “insignificant” district leaders said. He said no top leaders of the saffron party had indulged in politicisation of the airstrikes carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 26 February, in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans.
When he was cross-questioned about BJP chief Amit Shah publicly placing the casualty figures of the airstrikes at ‘250-300’ despite no confirmation from the government or the armed forces, Gadkari told The Quint, “When the incident happened, people were curious.” He added, “We responded to the questions of the people.”
He further said, “the BJP does not believe in politicising matters of national security.”
On the agricultural crisis in India, Gadkari said, despite several measures it is impossible for a government to find a complete solution for the farmers in five years since the agrarian problem in India is vast.
Gadkari said he and his party are certain that they will emerge victorious in the upcoming 2019 elections. He asserted that the BJP will come back to power with more than 282 seats, exceeding their 2014 tally and that Narendra Modi will become the prime minister again.
On Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar’s decision to not contest the upcoming elections, Gadkari said, “I think he understood which way the wind is blowing.”
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