Elections Cannot Be Won Over Jawans’ Blood: Mamata Slams BJP

Mamata alleged Modi has turned BJP into a “private” organisation, branding people criticising it as anti-national.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Photo: The Quint)

Hitting out at the BJP for allegedly politicising the air strike in Pakistan, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, 5 March said, elections cannot be won over jawans’ blood.

“A jawan sheds his blood for the country. They serve the country, they do not indulge in politics. I strongly condemn those who play politics with martyrs.” 

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister

Alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to have turned the party into a “private” organisation which brands any criticism ‘anti-national’, she said, “Whenever someone says something against Modi babu, then that person is branded a Pakistan supporter. My father was a freedom fighter, I will not learn patriotism from them.”

Earlier in the day, BJP President Amit Shah had said that Pakistan used to return beheaded bodies of Indian jawans, but now it sends back pilots "within 48 hours."

"See the change now. Within 48 hours, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released and he is among us," Shah said, while addressing a party workers at a meeting in Jharkhand.

The Indian Air Force also went inside Pakistan and demolished terror camps, proving the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Pulwama terror attack, Shah said.