‘Attack Them on Failures of Govt, Not For Proof’, Omar Abdullah Advises Opposition Over Balakot Air Strikes Row

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah says that the Opposition should deny space or opportunity to the NDA government to chest thump over Balakot air strikes.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Ashna Kumar

Updated: March 5, 2019, 8:21 PM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/news/india/attack-them-on-failures-of-govt-not-for-proof-omar-abdullah-advises-opposition-over-balakot-air-strikes-row-3595679/ Copy

Omar Abdullah

New Delhi: Partaking in the ongoing Opposition chorus over proof of air strikes on camps of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan, ex-Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said we should ‘deny PM the space to politicise these strikes’.

The National Conference leader reasoned that Opposition parties need to change their line of attack and not allow the incumbent government any opportunity to highlight air strikes on Balakot.

With the Lok Sabha elections only a couple of months away, Abdullah said that the attention should be steered back to the NDA government’s unfulfilled promises and failing schemes, like- rural distress, unemployment, poor economy etc.

The opposition parties need to switch tracks & deny the PM the space to politicise the recent terror attack/air strikes. The way to do it is to keep the messaging focused on the economy, rural distress, unemployment, agriculture & all the other things BJP doesn’t want discussed.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 5, 2019

He further tweeted, “Every time we talk about Pulwama or Balakote we leave the door wide open for the PM & the BJP to play to their strengths in front of their home audience. Logic would dictate we switch strategies. Make them play to our strengths now.”

The sentiment behind Omar Abdullah’s tweet on Tuesday was also shared by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on March 2.

Calling those who question the veracity of Balakot strikes anti national is baffling. However the opposition should not fall into this trap of changing the entire election discourse from pressing issues like demonetisation, GST , unemployment,farmers distress to these strikes.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 3, 2019

This comes in the backdrop of Opposition leaders across country asking the BJP-led government to provide evidence of IAF’s ‘pre-emptive air strikes’ across terror camps of JeM on February 26.