The BJP reacted sharply to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s comments on the Pulwama attack.

Mr. Naidu, during a teleconference with the party leaders on Tuesday, said the nation was discussing about the doubts raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the timing of the attack.

The BJP alleged that Mr. Naidu would stoop to any level for his vested political interests.

Recalling that the TDP president was attacked at Alipiri a few months before the elections in 2004, the BJP sought to know whether its timing was preplanned.

Election issue

BJP MLC P.V.N. Madhav, in a statement, alleged that Mr. Naidu’s comment would not match his stature.

The Chief Minister seemed to have lost his balance, and his comments reflected his ignorance and lack of knowledge about national security, he said.

Mr. Naidu was trying to gain cheap political mileage out of every issue, including national security, he added.

Mr. Naidu should remember that he had advanced the Assembly elections in 2004 by eight months after he was injured in the Alipiri incident.

The TDP made it an election issue then, he said.

BJP State vice-president Vishnuvardhan Reddy, in another statement, alleged that Mr. Naidu proved that he could stoop to any level for his survival.

‘CM should explain’

Mr. Naidu was trying to gain political mileage when 40 jawans had been killed in the Pulwama attack. It was an insult to the families of the martyrs, he said.

Mr. Naidu should remember that the Central security forces were shielding him round the clock.

The Chief Minister owed an explanation to the people whether the Alipiri incident was also orchestrated, he said, adding the Chief Minister should apologise to the soldiers for his remarks.