‘Were You Uprooting Terrorists Or Trees?’ Navjot Sidhu Questions Air Strikes

Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday questioned the Centre on the air strikes in Pakistan asking it not to politicse them.

Turning to Twitter, the former cricketer asked the government not to politicise the army as it is as sacred as the state.

Sidhu was referring to the statement by SS Ahluwalia that said the strikes were meant to send out a message and not to kill. His tweet read: “300 terrorist dead, Yes or No? What was the purpose then? Were you uprooting terrorist or trees? Was it an election gimmick? Deceit possesses our land in guise of fighting a foreign enemy. Stop politicising the army, it is as sacred as the state.”

300 terrorist dead, Yes or No?

What was the purpose then? Were you uprooting terrorist or trees? Was it an election gimmick?

Deceit possesses our land in guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

Stop politicising the army, it is as sacred as the state.

ऊंची दुकान फीका पकवान| pic.twitter.com/HiPILADIuW

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 4, 2019

#WATCH Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa says, "The Mig-21 Bison is a capable aircraft, it has been upgraded, it has better radar, air-to air missiles and better weapons system." pic.twitter.com/6D3yzBEQrY

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019

IAF doesn't count number of dead; casualty figure to be given by govt: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa

The casualty figure in the air strike on the Balakot camp would be given out by the government, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said on Monday while asserting that the Indian Air Force did not count the number of dead.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the death toll depended on the number of people present at the target.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on air strikes: The target has been clearly amplified by FS in his statement. If we plan to hit the target, we hit the target, otherwise why would he (Pak PM) have responded, if we dropped bombs in the jungles why would he respond. pic.twitter.com/X4Y0Jdopr6

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019

The Rafale jet should come into India’s inventory by September, the Air Force chief told reporters in his first comments since the February 26 attack on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot in Pakistan.

When an adversary attacks you, every aircraft is used, Dhanoa said, adding that the MiG 21 jet used in the dog fight with Pakistan is an upgraded aircraft with advanced weapons system.

Referring to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan on February 27 as tensions between the countries escalated, he said he could not comment on the politics but was happy the officer was back home.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on air strikes: IAF is not in a postilion to clarify the number of casualties. The government will clarify that. We don't count human casualties, we count what targets we have hit or not. pic.twitter.com/Ji3Z6JqReB

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019

“We don’t take chances with the medical fitness of a pilot,” he said, adding that Abhinandan would fly a fighter jet if he was fit.

All required treatment would be given to Wing Commander Abhinandan, Dhanoa said. Abhinandan was released by Pakistan on Friday.

The Air Force, Dhanoa said, had to get its act together and find out what caused the mid-air clash ahead of the opening of the Bengaluru air show on February 19 and the helicopter crash in Kashmir last week