New Delhi: Referring to the claims made by a Pakistani Opposition leader that the Pakistan Army chief was perspiring following the Balakot air-strike, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched an offensive against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra referred to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq's claims about the Pakistan Army chief, and questioned why Rahul Gandhi could never stand in support of the Indian forces.
Recalling the tension in Islamabad after India bombed a terror training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot on February 26, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq recently claimed that Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was perspiring and his "legs were shaking" as Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said during a meeting that if Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was not released, India would attack Pakistan "at 9 PM".
"The people of India never had any doubt. As far as the military and our leadership is concerned, we have clarity and decisiveness. However, it is sad that in India, there is a shehzaada (prince) in the opposition, who at times seems to be the prince of Pakistan and not India," Patra said in an obvious reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
"When the Indian Army carries out a surgical strike, shehzaada questions them. It is shameful. After the air strike, shehzaada said PM Modi has done nothing, and even made comments against the Army chief," he added.
Read: 'Bajwa trembling, Qureshi said India will attack if Abhinandan not released'
However, the reality is that the Indian Army has said that it is always ready to answer on every front, the BJP spokesperson said.
"Rahul ji, why are you with the ones who sweat? Why are you not with the Indian Army which makes others sweat?" Patra questioned the Congress leader.
Earlier yesterday, PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq criticised the Imran Khan government over its response, saying that the Opposition has supported the government on every issue, including Kashmir and Varthaman, but it will no longer be appropriate to provide any further support.
Sadiq, who was the Speaker of the National Assembly during the PML-N government, made a similar statement earlier on Wednesday in Parliament that Foreign Minister Qureshi had said in an important meeting that if Varthaman was not released, India would attack Pakistan "at 9 PM that night" and "for God's sake we should let him go."
The 37-year-old IAF pilot was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27 after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat.
Before his jet was hit, Varthaman downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.
Read: 'Peshawar mosque blast exposed Imran Khan's tall claims of rooting out terrorism'
