Won’t support using army in political posters, propaganda across country: Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi defended on Thursday his allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is profiteering from the blood of soldiers following widespread condemnation and a political tussle over his remarks.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi defended on Thursday his allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is profiteering from the blood of soldiers following widespread condemnation and a political tussle over his remarks.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to say that he supported the army’s strikes against militant bases across the Line of Control last week. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

Gandhi took to Twitter to say that he supported the army’s strikes against militant bases across the Line of Control last week but condemned the use of army soldiers in political posters across the country. This was a possible reference to allegations that BJP leaders were using the military operation for electoral benefit in poll-bound states.

At a rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, the Congress leader had attacked Modi, alleging that Modi was profiteering from the blood spilt by soldiers. “What are you (PM) doing? Our soldiers have given their blood in Jammu and Kashmir, carried out surgical strikes for India, you (PM) are hiding behind their blood,” he said.

The remark triggered condemnation from even other opposition leaders with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he stood with the army and asked Gandhi to apologise.

The BJP has repeatedly blamed the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party of trying to gain political mileage out of the army’s strikes, saying the opposition was belitting the military and insulting the soldiers.