Mamata welcomes IAF officer's return

Kolkata: With India's fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman returning to his homeland on Friday night after being in Pakistan's custody for two days, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed his return.

"Welcome home #AbhinandanVarthaman Welcome home sweet home," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.

Banerjee on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of seeking political mileage over the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force in Balakot, stressing on the fact that the Centre is yet to divulge the truth about the terrorists allegedly killed in the strike.

"The people of India have a right to know what exactly happened during the air strike. The Centre must allow our forces to speak the truth. They should also come clean on the number of terrorists claimed to have been killed during the air strike," Banerjee had maintained.

While speaking to the media at Nabanna on Thursday, the CM hit out at the Modi government, saying: "Ahead of the forthcoming elections, the Centre is keen on deriving political mileage from the air strike that has been conducted by our Air Force. The jawans defend our borders and we all hold them in high esteem. But politicising the whole issue only to satisfy one's political interest is condemnable."