Opposition questioning air strike in Pakistan has hurt national interest

NEW DELHI: Hitting out at opposition parties for questioning the recent air strike in Pakistan, finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the remarks have hurt India's national interest.

In a blog post on Facebook titled 'India’s opposition has a lot to learn, he said that the credibility of both the government and our Air Force is being doubted. Jaitley said that such comments not only give smiles to Pakistan, they become an important instrument in Pakistan’s hands to "discredit India's operation against terrorism."


"The resolution passed by 21 Opposition Parties after their meeting accusing the Prime Minister of politicising the Pulwama & Balakot incidents was highly inappropriate. It gave a handle to the enemy. Pakistan's media used this statement of 21 opposition parties as a trump card," he said.

The Union minister added that he was disappointed with a brief but a "highly objectionable" statement of the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh where he implicitly "doubted India’s right to defend its sovereignty" from those who want to damage it through terrorism.


He said that the opposition is entitled to oppose and ask questions, but then restrain and statesmanship are also an essential ingredient of public discourse. "I hope, India’s opposition revisits its position and does not let down the nation," he added.