Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he had warned Pakistan of consequences if it did not return Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.
Addressing a poll rally at Patan in Gujarat, he asserted hisgovernment’s commitment towards national security and said whether the primeminister’s chair remains or not, he has decided that “either he will be aliveor the terrorists”.
He also took a jibe at NCP leader Sharad Pawar, saying if heis unaware of his next move, then how can Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khangauge what he will do.
Modi urged the people of Gujarat to help the BJP win all 26Lok Sabha seats in his home state, where polling will be held on Tuesday, andsaid if it does not happen, then there will be discussions on TV over it on theday of vote counting.
Following the air strike at Balakot camp in Pakistan, therewas a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes on February 27 inwhich the IAF wing commander was captured by the neighbouring country andreleased on the night of March 1.
He said after Abhinandan was caught, opposition startedseeking a reply from him. “We held a press conference and warned Pakistanthat if anything happened to our pilot, you will keep telling the world whatModi did to you.”
“A senior American official said on the second day thatModi has kept 12 missiles ready and might attack and the situation willdeteriorate. Pakistan announced return of the pilot, or else it was going to bea “qatal ki raat’,” he said.
“This was said by America, I have nothing to say aboutthis now, I will speak about it when the time will come,” he said.
“The (PM’s) chair remains or goes, I have decided thateither I be alive or terrorists will remain alive,” he said.
He said the air strike at camps in Pakistan was somethingpeople expected from him. “When Pulwama happened, what did the countryexpect Modi to do? Would you, would the country have pardoned me had I donewhat the Manmohan Singh government did after 26/11,” he asked.
The country wanted something to be done, he said, addingthat he had announced giving a free hand to the military. “They (Pakistan)made tight arrangements, but being the disciple of Lord Hanuman, our peopleconducted air strike and their story was over,” he said.
Hitting out at the opposition parties, he said the Balakotstrike made them uncomfortable. “Pakistan was repeatedly saying Indiabombed us, but people here were questioning if this was India’s Balakot. Theywere proved false,” he said.
Accusing the Congress of questioning the bravery of India’smilitary force and doubting its action, he said, “Does any Congress leaderask for air strike proof? They have got the message to stop asking becausepeople are getting angry. After the first and second phases of polls, they haveforgotten to ask.”
He also took a swipe at Pawar, who on Saturday said he was “terribly afraid” as to what Modi, who once called the NCP chief his mentor in politics, would do next. “Sharad Pawar says I don’t know what will Modi do. If he is unaware of what Modi will do tomorrow, how will Imran Khan know?” he said.