Parrikar belittling valour of Indian Army: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of “belittling” the valour of the Indian Army, saying his statement over surgical strikes shows that he is indulging in low-grade politics.

The party also claimed that the BJP was trying to encash on the issue ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Rejecting claims that surgical strikes were undertaken during the UPA government, Parrikar asserted that a “major” share of credit for the army action last month goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at two different events in Mumbai, he said all the 127 crore people of India, including “doubting Thomases”, and the army share and deserve credit for the operation as it was done by the armed forces and not by any political party.

“There is no better example of low-grade politics. By issuing such statement, Parrikar is belittling the achievements of the Indian Army, which has had a proud history of valour and sacrifice,” AAP’s Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey said.

He said that Parrikar had also compared the Indian Army to Hanuman who had to be made aware of his powers and by saying this he has “insulted” the army.

He also lodged a compliant, asking the police to book Parrikar under sedition charges. “The BJP has misused issues ahead of polls. During MP polls, it got a full-page advertisement printed about Chinese incursions. They exploited cow during the Bihar polls and now they are doing this ahead of UP polls,” the AAP leader said.